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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has called for stronger professional structures and improved cost management to promote accountability and ensure value for money in Nigeria’s construction industry.
The institute made the call in Kaduna as the Kaduna State chapter commenced the construction of its permanent secretariat at Baban Saura, Millennium City, Kaduna.
The project, according to the institute, is expected to strengthen professional development, institutional capacity and the chapter’s contribution to the construction sector.
President of NIQS, QS Dr Aminu M. Bashir, who laid the foundation stone of the project in the presence of quantity surveyors, construction industry professionals, past leaders and other stakeholders, stressed the importance of effective cost management in the delivery of construction projects.
Bashir said quantity surveyors play a critical role in the construction process, providing expertise in cost planning, budgeting, procurement, contract administration and expenditure control.
According to him, stronger professional capacity in these areas is central to ensuring that construction projects deliver value for money, particularly at a time when governments and private investors are committing substantial resources to infrastructure and building projects.
The Kaduna Chapter’s secretariat project is being implemented under the leadership of its Chairperson, QS Dr Bukola Aluko-Olokun, and the 16th Senate of the chapter.
The project is designed to provide a permanent base for administrative activities, professional development, meetings and engagements with members and other stakeholders.
Speaking on the development, Aluko-Olokun described the project as more than an office building, saying it represented an investment in professional growth, institutional continuity and the future of quantity surveying.
“The secretariat is not merely an office project but an investment in professional growth, institutional continuity and the future of quantity surveying,” she said.
The chapter also acknowledged the contributions of the NIQS national leadership, members, past leaders and other stakeholders whose support, it said, had made the project possible.
It said the development in Kaduna demonstrated the importance of building stronger professional institutions capable of supporting the standards, skills and accountability required to manage Nigeria’s expanding construction needs.
According to the chapter, the secretariat would also contribute to ensuring that public and private investments translate into quality and sustainable infrastructure.
