NIQS wants ICPC, others to fight corruption in construction sector

 Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has urged anti-corruption agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), civil society groups and professional associations to come together to explore ways of curbing corruption in the construction sector in Nigeria.

Agele Alufohai, NIQS , made this call in his speech during the visit of the NIQS national executive council and members to ICPC chairman, Ekpo Nta, in Abuja. The visit was the institute’s first collaboration with ICPC on curbing corruption in the country and boosting economic growth.

In his speech with the theme, ‘A Preventative Approach to Combating Corruption: The Quantity Surveyors Dual Mandate,” Alufohai said quantity surveyors must lead the way in providing solutions to curbing corruption in Nigeria.

“It is the job of quantity surveyors to ensure that no construction pricing crime takes place,” he said, charging surveyors to reduce drastically the incidence of project delays.

Development, he said, is about getting the right people to spend government funds to provide goods and services at the right cost in a timely manner.

“Quantity surveyors should be involved more in infrastructure construction, given Nigeria’s huge infrastructure gap and the critical importance of assuring value-for-money while procuring infrastructure either through direct government financing or public private partnerships (PPP),” he said.

He stated that the civil society must not wait to see corruption committed before crying foul, urging them to engage in studying how processes and procedures in the public and private sectors aid corruption and demand changes wherever required.

L-R, Alero Edu, head consultant, PR Distinction; Wale Osomo, special guest, and Elizabeth Aina- Scott, zonal director, NTA, Lagos network centre, cutting the tape to declare the Exhibition open.

ODINAKA MBONU