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By Maduka Nweke, [email protected]
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, has charged the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to leverage the expertise of professionals in the building sector to help solve the ills bedeviling the construction industry.
Buhari gave the charge when the 27th President of NIQS, Mr. Kene Nzekwe, paid him a courtesy call at his Kastina home recently. While congratulating Nzekwe on his investiture as the 27th President of the Institute, Buhari thanked the Institute for the efforts it is making in seeing that construction projects are executed with a high sense of probity.
He appreciated the Institute for the visit and thanked it for recommending quantity surveyors in some important government establishments like the appointment of late Ahmad Salhijo as the Lead Consultant on the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) projects and Mamman Ahmadu as the Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) from October 2016 to date.
“As the President of Nigeria, I knew the value and competence of quantity surveyors in project cost administration, which was what informed my choice of appointing quantity surveyors in the positions I did,” Buhari said.
According to the former President, if all professionals in the building and infrastructure sectors will act professionally, the sectors would have solved half of the ills in the industry. He urged quantity surveyors to remain focused and committed to ensuring that projects are completed within the cost, time and quality.
He assured the NIQS President of his support for the Institute in the best way he can as he acknowledged the importance of quantity surveyors in the field of cost management in building and infrastructure projects.
Earlier in his opening speech, Mr. Nzekwe noted that during Buhari’s tenure, he hosted the NIQS and in recognition of his support for the profession, he was honoured with an honorary fellowship.
“In 2016, you had already appointed a quantity surveyor in the person of Mamman Ahmadu as the Director General Bureau of Public Procurement. Your commitment to the growth of the profession in Nigeria was also evident during your earlier service as chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
“As chairman of the defunct PTF, you championed the use of quantity surveyors as lead consultants on almost all the PTF projects. The appointment of late Ahmad Salhijo as the main lead consultant and Managing Partner of Afri-Projects Consortium Ltd is an example.
“Your recognition of the expertise of quantity surveyors significantly contributed to the success of those projects and solidified the importance of our profession in the field of cost management in building and infrastructure projects.
“Your influence and dedication to the growth of our nation are irrefutable and we believe that your voice remains an invaluable asset in advocating for the pride of place that quantity surveyors deserve, especially in the realm of cost management for infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
“The challenges and opportunities facing our profession have evolved and we are confident that, with your continued advocacy and support, we can overcome any obstacles and continue to contribute significantly to the development of our nation. We are not just asking for support; we are inviting you to be an integral part of our progress and excellence that involving quantity surveyors in delivering critical infrastructure projects will bring to Nigeria,” he said.
