Professional Ethics and Legal Frameworks Governing Survey Practice in Nigeria: A Critical Assessment

Survey practitioners in Nigeria operate within a legal and professional ethics framework that has not kept pace with technological and industry changes, creating regulatory gaps and professional conduct challenges. This study critically assesses the professional ethics and legal frameworks governing survey practice in Nigeria, with particular reference to the Survey Co-ordination Act, the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria regulations, and the professional code of conduct. Primary data are collected through structured questionnaires administered to registered surveyors in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, supplemented by in-depth interviews with SURCON officials and legal practitioners specialising in land law. The study analyses cases of professional misconduct, boundary dispute litigation involving survey evidence, and complaints submitted to SURCON's disciplinary committee between 2020 and 2024. Key findings reveal inadequate awareness of ethical obligations among practitioners who entered the profession through technology-driven pathways, limited enforcement capacity of SURCON relative to the scale of unlicensed survey activity, and unresolved conflicts between customary tenure practices and statutory survey requirements. Comparative analysis with professional regulation frameworks in Ghana and South Africa identifies specific reforms applicable to the Nigerian context. The study contributes to ongoing regulatory reform discussions and provides PGD-level practitioners with a structured ethical and legal reference framework. Keywords: professional ethics, survey law, SURCON, Nigeria, regulatory framework.