NIQS blames abandoned projects on poor costing, monitoring

The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has blamed the high number of abandoned projects on poor costing, monitoring and evaluation. 

The institute urged government to ensure projects are delivered within the stipulated time frame through the utilisation of scarce resources in an effective and efficient manner.

NIQS President, Mohammed Abba Tor, who stated this in Abuja, said the role of quantity surveyors as the professional construction costs managers are sometimes overlooked, adding that their engagement is key to good project management and delivery. 

He said: “Proper costing of construction projects would help in successful delivery of construction projects. If there were no proper analysis and estimation of resources, there would be challenges. Unfortunately, overlooking this input has negative effects ranging from costs overrun, challenges in procurement and mismatch between assumed project resourcing and actual requirements.”

While urging quantity surveyors to ensure that their clients get value for money, Tor stressed the need to optimize scarce resources in every construction project. He disclosed that NIQS will unveil its new brand identity at its Annual General Meeting in Minna, Niger State.

Tor said 50 years after the NIQS came into existence, major changes in the political, social and technological environments have had tremendous impact on the quantity surveying practice. 

The president explained that NIQS embarked on rebranding process to properly situate the institute within the context of domestic and global changes as well as ensure it remains relevant to society and discharge its obligations to members.

Tor said the major themes dominating global focus are evolving towards the creation of sustainable and inclusive society for all. “This has made it important for the NIQS to align strategically and be a channel through which these global goals are fed into the Nigerian context,” he added.

Tor explained that the institute will be anchored on foundation that can be leveraged on by its members to the benefit of the wider society.

“This will start from implementing new value propositions that are relevant to our members and the society,” he added.

“The vision of the NIQS is to be the profession in Nigeria responsible for total cost and procurement management, for the achievement of client’s objectives in all types of capital projects and developments, from conception to commissioning and maintenance, in all sectors of the economy, for the attainment of sustainable National development and goals.”The NIQS president who warned against the use of quacks, said that the institute will arrest and prosecute prosecute culprits.