The President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors  (NIQS), QS Kene Nzekwe, has revealed that neither the institute nor its members was engaged in the process which culminated in the award of the N15trillion contract for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

He said this while responding to questions during a press conference ahead of the Institute’s 2024 annual general meeting, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

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Nzekwe said, “The institute has no record that any of our members was engaged in the cost management for this critical project.”

The Contract for the project was awarded to HITECH Construction Company Limited under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) arrangement, where most of the financial and construction risks are assumed by the contractor, with the federal government providing counterpart funding.

While appealing to governments at all levels to involve professionals in project design and execution, the NIQS President said, “There is also a need to seperate design and cost management responsibilities to promote transparency and accountability.

“Most importantly, we urge the government to ensure the involvement of qualified quantity surveyors in all construction and infrastructure projects to Maximize efficiency and sustainability.”

Earlier the NIQS President explained that this year’s AGM which has the theme: “Strengthening Quality Surveying Practice and Processes for Growth and Sustainability in a Turbulent Economy,” scheduled to hold from the 26th-29th November, 2024, was designed to bolster the profession to effectively respond to Nigeria’s economic challenges.

According him, the role of quantity surveyors in ensuring efficient resource allocation and cost management for capital projects cannot be overemphasized.

He said, “This conference is a call to action for practitioners to adopt and innovate. It seeks to inspire the adoption of modern tools and techniques that not only enhance project delivery but also contribute economic growth.

“Furthermore, it is an opportunity to advocate for the involvement of qualified professionals in all construction and infrastructure projects and to promote the adoption of global best practices by both the government and the private sector.”

Nzekwe further explained that besides the ongoing development of a comprehensive cost databank for the construction industry, the NIQS’ Building and Engineering Standard Method of Measurement known as BESMM 4R codified set of rules standardizes measurement practices across the industry.

In addition, he said, “Recongnising the need for inclusivity, the NIQS also developed a Standard Method of Resource Scheduling tailored to Small-Scale construction projects and the informal sector. “