ATOPCON criticises OSGOF’s Land Use and Allocation Committee, calling it unlawful and unprofessional, warning it could undermine town planning and spark legal disputes

The Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) has criticised the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) over its newly announced Land Use and Allocation Committee for Land Projects.

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ATOPCON President, Hakeem Olatunji Badejo, described the move as unprofessional, unethical, and a breach of Nigeria’s legal framework, noting that the committee’s composition four land surveyors and one quantity surveyor excludes estate surveyors and legal practitioners as required by the Land Use Act.

Badejo stressed that the authority to constitute such committees rests solely with state governors, not the Surveyor-General, and warned that the initiative could create confusion, conflicting approvals, and costly lawsuits.

He added that town planners, not surveyors, possess the expertise to develop lawful, technical, and visionary land-use plans, and that OSGOF’s actions violate professional and statutory boundaries.

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The association urged the federal office to respect Nigeria’s urban planning laws and the statutory roles of town planners to maintain professional order and legal compliance.