By Blessing Ibegbu
Prof. Yusuf Gandu, a Professor of Construction Management at Bingham University, Karu,FCT, has called for a Federal Government policy framework to encourage early adoption of emerging technologies in Nigeria’s construction sector.
Gandu made the call on Thursday while delivering the 12th Inaugural Lecture of the university in Karu.
The lecture, titled “Mutating Construction System and Its Implication on the Production Flow Process: A Quantity Surveying Perspective,” examined evolving trends shaping the construction industry and the built environment.
He said early adoption of modern construction technologies would provide economic advantages and improve productivity in the sector.
According to him, government institutions, public organisations, parastatals and the private sector must invest in capacity building and training of personnel in diverse technological competencies.
Gandu described the implementation of innovation in the construction industry as inevitable, noting that the sector remained a major employer of labour and a significant contributor to national economic growth.
According to him, in Nigeria, construction contributed significantly to the GDP and expenditure in the construction sector is often large in the form of capital projects.
The professor emphasised that competent leadership played a critical role in achieving project objectives.
“When a leader is competent, he will most likely influence better performance in an organisation than one who is less competent.
“The impact of leadership competency factors depends on three project objectives that is established. When a leader is competent in clear communication, the time factor of construction projects will improve.
“Defining roles and responsibilities improves the quality of work, and employing a consistent process in leadership enhances time objectives.
“Communicating expectations improves both cost, time, and quality objectives,” he said.
Gandu noted that emerging technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) printing, artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous construction equipment were already transforming global construction practices.
He explained that the Internet of Things (IoT) enabled interaction among biological, physical and digital systems, allowing machines and equipment to operate with minimal human control.
“Artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning (DL), and machine-to-machine communication (M2M) are algorithms that are transforming the behavior of construction machines to mimic human beings.
“There will be total disruption in construction production when C4.0 is fully in place soonest,” he said.
He described cost, time and quality, popularly referred to as the “Devil’s Triangle’’ as persistent challenges in construction management despite several industry transformations.
Gandu said proactive management approaches offered practical solutions for handling complex construction systems.
” We therefore developed a proactive cost management model (PCMM) for building projects.
“The model consists of three subsystems, which guide best practice, knowledge management, and the mathematical model for cost prediction, monitoring, and control of projects.
“The Best Practice subsystem comprises 12 modules that represent different milestones in the construction procurement process,” he said.
According to him, the model utilises historical cost data analysis to forecast cost growth trends and improve project planning outcomes.
He said findings from studies on previous construction revolutions indicated that the industry was entering a fourth phase driven largely by automation and digital technologies.
Gandu identified 21 emerging technologies expected to reshape construction production processes, noting that most were automated systems capable of generating and exchanging data and executing tasks without human intervention.
He said such technologies would minimise human-related inefficiencies that had long hindered construction project success.
The professor added that research on leadership styles showed varying impacts on project outcomes, with autocratic and transactional styles improving time performance, while democratic and transformational approaches enhanced quality delivery.
He stressed that leadership competence, rather than leadership style alone, remained the most decisive factor in achieving project success.
Gandu urged stakeholders to embrace innovation and proactive management strategies to reposition Nigeria’s construction sector for global competitiveness. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
