Stakeholders in the construction industry have blamed infrastructure failure in Nigeria on mismanagement and corruption.
A quantity surveyor and cost estimator, Chijioke Iwuagwu, who spoke on Tuesday at a National Workshop organised by the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors, identified inefficiency, mismanagement, and corruption as the main obstacles to successful infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
Despite spending N126tn on infrastructure between 2015 and 2024, the country’s infrastructure remains underdeveloped.Iwuagwu noted that the government’s innovative funding methods, such as Sukuk and the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, had not addressed those underlying issues.
He emphasised the need for improved project management practices, strengthened regulatory oversight, and transparency and accountability in infrastructure development.
Iwuagwu also stressed the importance of capacity building for project administrators to effectively manage contracts and mitigate risks.
Meanwhile, the NIQS has also called on the government to involve quantity surveyors in all construction projects across the country.
This appeal was made by the President of NIQS, Lawrence Nzekwe, at the workshop.
Lawrence emphasised the critical role of quantity surveyors in ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of efficiency and sustainability.
“Our profession, rooted in the principles of financial probity and accountability, plays an indispensable role in the life cycle of all construction projects,” he said.
He noted that the involvement of quantity surveyors in construction projects would ensure that national resources are judiciously managed and development goals are met with integrity and professionalism.
“By doing so, we can collectively ensure that our national resources are judiciously managed and that our development goals are met with integrity and professionalism,” he added.
The NIQS president also announced the development of a comprehensive cost databank, which would serve as a critical tool for enhancing transparency and accountability in the construction sector.
“When completed, it will serve as a critical tool for enhancing transparency and accountability in the construction sector, allowing for effective monitoring and regulation of construction costs at local, state, and federal levels,” he explained.
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