By Eniola Elewude
The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has stressed the need for effective project management to address abandoned projects and promote sustainable national development in the country.
The Registrar of the Membership Arm of CIPMN, Hajara Yusuf, stated this during a conference on the role of project management in governance and national development in Abuja.
Yusuf said Nigeria’s challenge was not the lack of resources, but poor accountability and weak implementation structures.
According to her, project management remains a strategic tool for ensuring proper supervision, accountability and sustainability of projects across sectors.
She said project managers help to ensure that responsibilities are clearly assigned and monitored throughout the lifespan of projects.
“You discover that in most projects, architects, engineers and quantity surveyors complete their assignments and move on, but when there is a project manager, responsibility can be traced and accountability enforced,” she said.
Yusuf noted that developed countries had maintained quality infrastructure through proper monitoring and maintenance culture driven by effective project management systems.
She added that many nation-building programmes in Nigeria failed because of poor implementation and lack of competent project managers.
Also speaking, Chibunmas Ubawike, National Chairman of All Registered APC North-South Progressives, identified poor monitoring and evaluation as major causes of abandoned projects in the country.
Ubawike said proper supervision would ensure timely delivery of projects and value for public funds.
“One of the key elements of project management is monitoring and evaluation. Where projects are properly monitored, there will be little or no abandoned projects,” he said.
He urged governments at all levels to integrate project management principles into governance and policy implementation.
In her remarks, Jophia Gupar expressed concern over the poor state of infrastructure in some parts of the country, attributing the problem to weak supervision and poor quality control.
Gupar said involving qualified project consultants would improve quality assurance and ensure compliance with project specifications.
She also called on government to support CIPMN in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Earlier, Aisha Bagudu said effective project management was critical to achieving sustainable national development.
Bagudu, represented by Mr Sani Habib, said Nigeria needed proper planning, accountability, monitoring and continuity in project execution to achieve meaningful development.
According to her, more than 56,000 abandoned and uncompleted projects recorded since 1999 reflected wasted resources and lost opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
She said many projects failed due to poor planning, weak monitoring systems and lack of sustainability measures.
“National development is not about how many projects are announced or commissioned, but about projects that work, last long and truly benefit the people,” she said.
Bagudu urged project managers to uphold integrity, transparency and accountability in project delivery, adding that development must focus on improving the lives of citizens.
She commended CIPMN for promoting professionalism and capacity building in project management across the country. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
