THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RED COPY AND THE BLUE COPY OF A SURVEY PLAN 🍎🍓🌹

_LANDZUP— Building knowledge, securing lands.

When buying land in Nigeria, one of the most important documents you’ll come across is the survey plan. Yet, many land buyers get confused when they hear terms like Red Copy and Blue Copy.

Understanding the difference between the two can protect you from land scams, fake documents, and costly mistakes in your real estate journey.

🔹 What Is a Survey Plan?

A survey plan is an official document that shows the exact boundaries, size, and location of a piece of land. It also contains information such as:

The name of the landowner

The surveyor’s name, seal, and signature

The description and coordinates of the land

The survey plan number

In Nigeria, every genuine piece of land must have a survey plan prepared and signed by a licensed surveyor.

🔵 The Blue Copy (Landowner’s Copy)

The Blue Copy is the client’s copy of the survey plan.
After the surveyor measures the land and prepares the plan, this version is given to the landowner.

It contains all the necessary details about the land but is not yet approved or lodged with the government.

Key points about the Blue Copy:

Belongs to the landowner or client

Shows boundaries, measurements, and coordinates

Has the surveyor’s seal and signature

Used mainly for personal or preliminary documentation

Not yet verified by the Office of the Surveyor General

Think of it as your personal record of the survey before it becomes officially recognized.

🔴 The Red Copy (Government Copy)

The Red Copy is the official version of the survey plan that is lodged at the Office of the Surveyor General of the state.
This copy is submitted by the licensed surveyor for verification, approval, and charting.

Charting is the process where the government checks the land’s coordinates to confirm:

Whether it overlaps with another land

Whether it falls under government acquisition

Whether it’s free for private ownership

Once the Red Copy is submitted and approved, it becomes part of the state land records and can be verified at the Surveyor General’s office.

Key points about the Red Copy:

Kept by the Office of the Surveyor General

Used for official verification and record keeping

Confirms the land’s authenticity and freedom status

Proof that the survey was done by a licensed surveyor

🍎🍎🍎 Red Copy vs. Blue Copy – The Main Difference

Feature Blue Copy Red Copy

Owner Landowner / Client Government (Surveyor General’s Office)
Status Unverified Verified & Official
Purpose Personal reference Government record
Verification Not yet charted Fully charted and approved
Usage Proof of survey Legal verification at land registry

In summary:
✅ Blue Copy = Landowner’s copy (not yet verified)
✅ Red Copy = Government copy (verified and charted)

🍇🍇🍇 Why You Should Always Check the Red Copy Before Buying Land

Before paying for any land, verify the Red Copy of the survey plan at the Surveyor General’s office. This simple step helps you confirm:

The land is not under government acquisition

The survey plan is genuine and prepared by a licensed surveyor

The coordinates match the actual location on the ground

Skipping this verification is one of the main reasons many buyers fall victim to land scams.

🏓🏓🏓Final Advice from LANDZUP

At LANDZUP, we encourage every buyer and investor to take land verification seriously.
Always ask for the survey plan, and confirm that its Red Copy has been properly lodged and charted. It’s a small step that can save you from big problems later.
To contact LANDZUP, hit the WhatsApp button to chat with us on WhatsApp/ call or fill our CONTACT US form. Thank you