NIQS canvasses solutions to construction problems
The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has asked professional bodies in the Construction Industry to seek industry led solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the Industry.
This was the submission of the president of the institute, QS Obafemi Onashile at the 1st Construction Industry Institutional Business Dinner organized by the institute in Lagos on recently.
Onashile said the construction industry in Nigeria faced challenges ranging from building collapse, injuries and death on construction sites, non-payment of contractors and consultants fees, high cost of construction and shortage of artisans among others.
He noted that rather than seek government led solutions, professionals should tackle the problems headlong.
The NIQS president called for an industry wide commonly agreed solutions to the problems faced by stakeholders in the industry.
“The time has come for stakeholders of the industry to come together as a matter of urgency to pursue industry-wide reforms that will enhance the operations of the industry and improve the economy of our nation,” Onashile said.
The chairman of the occasion, Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) noted that Nigeria had one of the highest costs of construction in the whole world and called on professionals in the Construction Industry to find a way of cutting the costs of construction in the country.
High point of the occasion was the conferment of Honorary Fellow of NIQS on Gen. Danjuma in recognition of his promotion of Quantity Surveying and various developmental programmes of expanding local capacities for the Construction Industry.
Notable among those who attended the dinner are, Senator (Mrs) Daisy Danjuma, former Minister of State for Power, Malam Murtala Aliyu, Presidents of Registration Boards of the professions in the Construction Industry, Presidents of the Professional Bodies and their Deputies.