14/10/2026
WHAT IS WRITTEN ON A BEACON PILLAR AND ITS PURPOSE
When you buy a land or conduct a survey, you’ll notice that each beacon pillar has some letters and numbers written on it, for example:
👉 SC/OY ET 1734 AFA
Many people ignore it, but that number is very important. Here’s what it means and why it matters 👇
Meaning of the Numbers
The letters and numbers represent your survey plan details and location identity.
The first part (e.g. SC) stands for Surveyor Council, (OY) stands for state code, here it means Oyo State.
The next numbers & alphabets (e.g. ET 1734) are the unique survey identification numbers & alphabets assigned by the Office of the Surveyor General.
The last alphabets (AFA) is the surfix of a Surveyor that handles or signs the plan
Every beacon has its own unique code, which matches what’s written on your survey plan.
Purpose of the Beacon Number
✅ It helps identify your land accurately on the survey map.
✅ It shows that the land has been properly surveyed and registered.
✅ It prevents land encroachment, because your exact coordinates are known.
✅ It serves as legal evidence in case of any boundary or ownership dispute.
Without these beacons, your land cannot be properly traced or verified in the surveyor’s database.
So, anytime you see those letters and numbers on a beacon, know that it’s not just random writing.
It’s the identity of your land.
Always ensure your land has beacons with clear numbers that match your survey document.
That’s one of the best ways to secure your property legally