Mohammed Shosanya
The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria(CIPMN) has revealed that the cost of abandoned projects in Nigeria has hit over N17 trillion.
Mr. Henry Mbadiwe, Registrar of CIPMN, who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a media briefing,said that research has shown that the main causes of abandoned projects in Nigeria include, lack of articulated vision and objects; lack of proper project planning from the onset; lack of proper budgetary allocation for the project; inefficient legal system;corruption and compromises as well as weak institutions in Nigeria that lead to a lack of continuity with changes in the political administration.
He said that CIPMN would move past administration changes and their limitations and begin to enforce the law establishing the Institute.
He added:”We cannot continue to press the reset button each time an administration changes. CIPMN will move past administration changes and their limitations and begin to enforce our Establishment Act.
“We will take it up with all projects embarked on in Nigeria, where the law requires that those leading these projects be professional project managers licensed by CIPMN.”
He warned unlicensed project managers overseeing projects in Nigeria, to desist from such act forthwith or face the consequences of their actions.
He said: “Let me be clear: The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria will not tolerate unlicensed project managers overseeing projects in Nigeria. Those who do so will face serious consequences.
“The law establishing CIPMN has made it clear that everyone within the public and private sectors who heads, leads, or teaches any aspect of project management in Nigeria must be licensed to practise the profession.
“It is not a suggestion; it is the law, and we think, it’s high time we started obeying the law in this country.
“One of the challenges we face in Nigeria is not the absence of laws, but the blatant disregard for these laws, often with the perpetrator’s unwarranted confidence in impunity.
“While we may not have control over all sectors, we can assure you that in the project management sector, we are committed to upholding the law, ensuring that all project managers are licensed and accountable for their actions.”
He advised people who have international qualifications in Project management to regularise and get practising licence from CIPMN to practise.
“This is Nigeria, not America, China, or the United Kingdom. The law operating in Nigeria must be obeyed without compromise.
“While we are happy to collaborate with foreign project management bodies operating in Nigeria, we will not allow the idea that the laws establishing CIPMN can be dismissed.
“We will pursue any member practising project management in Nigeria without the CIPMN licence and every institution encouraging its members to ignore the law establishing CIPMN in Nigeria.
“We will pursue every organisation, whether local or international, operating in Nigeria that has individuals leading projects in Nigeria without the CIPMN license as required by law, and we will definitely hold ourselves to the highest possible standards in Nigeria and ensure that the regulation of this sector is done dispassionately without prejudice.”
He called on all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies(MDAs) of Government to take the call seriously, adding that “Since, we believe MDAs cannot ignore extant laws, then we also believe that they cannot allow their contractors and consultants to do the same.”
He further revealed that the enforcement of the CIPMN law would start in earnest in the first quarter of 2025, adding that “solving Nigeria’s problems is not that difficult; it just takes us to decide to do the right thing in our own little area, one day at a time, one task at a time, one person to another.”