The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria has raised concerns over the increasing financial waste associated with projects that require corrective works or adjustments after commissioning. According to the institute’s Registrar-General, Henry Mbadiwe, this trend is a major drain on public finances and a threat to development planning. Mbadiwe cited a World Bank report estimating that $4 billion is lost globally every year to corrective work on newly completed projects.
Mbadiwe emphasized that weak regulation and the use of unlicensed personnel in project execution are at the heart of the problem. He noted that Nigeria is still grappling with an estimated N17 trillion worth of abandoned projects, according to national audit reports. The project management profession is still growing in Nigeria, and Mbadiwe stressed the need for licensed professionals to manage projects.
The issue of project failures requiring reconstruction after commissioning is not new in Nigeria. Several instances have been reported where projects delivered and commissioned required emergency fixes or full redesigns within months due to structural defects, poor-quality materials, or non-compliance with specifications. A recent example is the reconstruction work at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, which commenced a few years after earlier rehabilitation works.
The Federal Executive Council has approved over N900 billion for aviation projects, including the rehabilitation of the airport’s Terminal One. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, defended the project, saying it was driven by the urgent need to replace decaying infrastructure and expand capacity.
The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria has warned that the law now criminalizes the management of any project without a valid license. The institute is admitting a new set of licensed project managers and has set up an enforcement team to verify compliance. The team will visit project sites to ensure that only licensed professionals are managing projects.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Onwusoro Maduka, described standardized project management as a “national governance necessity.” He warned that poor coordination across the three tiers of government weakens development outcomes and argued that a National Project Management Framework is needed to address these issues. The proposed framework includes mandatory licensing and induction for all project officers, annual recertification, and standardized monitoring templates.
The adoption of a uniform national procedure is crucial for the successful implementation of the National Development Plan 2021-2025, the Renewed Hope Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria’s efforts to regulate the project management space and ensure that only licensed professionals manage projects are significant steps towards addressing the issue of financial waste and promoting development in Nigeria.