Buhari Urges Quantity Surveyors to Ensure Projects are Completed Within Cost 

Bennett Oghifo

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the nation’s Quantity Surveyors to remain focused and commited to ensuring that projects are completed within the cost, time and quality. 

Buhari made the appeal when the NIQS President, QS Kene C. Nzekwe paid him a courtesy visit in Daura, Katsina State, recently.

According to a statement by the NIQS, President Buhari said, “If all professionals in the building and infrastructure sectors act professionally, the sectors would have solved half of the ills in the industry.” 

The statement said he assured the NIQS President of his continuous support for the Institute in the best way he could as he acknowledged the importance of the Quantity Surveying profession in the field of cost management in building and infrastructure projects.

He also thanked the Institute for the efforts it is making in seeing that construction projects are executed with a high sense of probity. In particular, he appreciated the Institute for the visit and thanking him for the appointment of Quantity Surveyors in some important government establishments like the appointment of Late QS Ahmad Salhijo FNIQS as the Lead Consultant on the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) projects and QS Mamman Ahmadu FNIQS as the Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) from October 2016 to date. He said, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he knew the value and competence of Quantity Surveyors in project cost administration, which was what informed his choice of appointing Quantity Surveyors in the positions he did. 

QS Nzekwe said the visit was a profound recognition of the former president’s instrumental role in fostering the growth and development of Quantity Surveying in Nigeria. “During your tenure as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria precisely in 2019, you graciously hosted the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, and in recognition of your outstanding leadership and support for our profession, you were honoured with an honorary fellowship of the Institute. In 2016 you had already appointed a Quantity Surveyor in the person of QS Mamman Ahmadu FNIQS as the Director General Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for all these uncommon benevolences to us, we are eternally grateful to you. Your commitment to the growth of Quantity Surveying in Nigeria was also evident during your earlier service to the country in your capacity as the Chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). As we all recall that as Chairman of the defunct PTF, you championed the use of Quantity Surveyors as lead consultants on almost all the PTF projects particularly the appointment of late QS Ahmad Salhijo FNIQS as the main lead consultant and Managing Partner of Afri-Projects Consortium Ltd. Your vision and foresight in recognizing 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. We stand before you today, Sir, not just to reminisce about the past but to express our gratitude and to humbly request your continued support. 

“Your influence and dedication to the growth of our great 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. Mr. President, we are not just asking for support; we are inviting you to be an integral part of the ongoing narrative of progress and excellence that involving quantity surveyors in delivering critical infrastructure projects will bring to Nigeria. Your legacy is already etched in the history of our profession, and we look forward to further chapters written with your continued support. In closing, I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation for the privilege of this visit.”