NIQS decries non-involvement in Lagos-Calabar highway project

The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has decried the non-involvement of professionals, especially quantity surveyors in the costing component of the N15.36 trillion Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

The body urged the Federal Government to revisit some of its policies that are causing hyperinflation to adversely affect the economy. The highway project has faced public scrutiny since it commenced in March 2024.

NIQS President, Kene Nzekwe, who spoke to journalists on its forthcoming yearly general meeting to be held this week in Port Harcourt, said that costing is critical in every project delivery and quantity surveyors are the only certified cost managers in the construction industry for infrastructure projects.

He observed that in these turbulent times, the role of quantity surveyors in ensuring efficient resource allocation and cost management for capital projects cannot be overemphasised.

Nzekwe noted that quackery leads to the abandonment of projects, stressing the need to build an engineering standard method of measurement that standardises construction components and makes cost management more reliable in projects.

“If you want to achieve the project delivery or project aspiration, you have to deal with the cost component from day one. But if you eliminate the people who will provide the services and engage quacks, there are tendencies that the project aspiration will not be achieved.”

He stated that the country is witnessing frequent building collapse due to the non-involvement of professionals in projects. However, Nzekwe said NIQS is ready to help governments judiciously and responsibly manage its scarce resources.