Experts blame policy interference for project failure

Abandoned Ajaokuta steel project. Inset: Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen
| credits: File copy

The Nigerian landscape is replete with abandoned projects with billions of naira going down the drain. However, project management professionals blame policy inconsistency for the problem, OKECHUKWU NNODIM writes

Project managers and stakeholders in the built environment have said that the major reason why many government contracts in the country remain uncompleted is because of unnecessary interference in policies.

They argued that the abandonment of projects and negligence of duty by contractors were mainly caused by poor or non-implementation of government policies.

The industry experts spoke at the inauguration of the Nigerian chapter of the African Project and Programme Management Association in Abuja on Friday.

The APPMA is an affiliate of the American Academy of Project Management.

According to the experts, Nigeria has certified professionals with unquestionable integrity who are ever ready to deliver on projects at stipulated periods.

But these professionals are often confronted with the challenge of policy interference by the government, a development that usually hampers the smooth delivery of projects as at when due.

The Chairman, APPMA, Mr. Adekaiyaoja Adewale, told our correspondent that projects in this part of the globe dragged beyond their scheduled time because of poor implementation of government policies.

He said, “We have quite enough professionals in diverse fields, who are chartered, certified and good at what they do. But one major issue that affects us in Nigeria negatively is policy implementation.

“By this I mean interference with government policies and inadequate implementation has always caused failures in projects and in ensuring the completion of projects generally.

“So, I say it again that interference with government policies and implementation are the major reasons why projects in this part of the world are most times never completed and dragged for years.”

He said it was worrisome that the government often terminated contracts even when policies on ground were unfavourable for the contractors and managers of such projects.

Investigations by our correspondent had revealed that four road projects with a combined contract value of N10.22bn were terminated by the Federal Government in 2012.

The revoked contracts were in Niger, Plateau, Jigawa and Cross River states.

It was learnt that the termination of the contracts was in accordance with the terms of the agreements between the government and the contractors involved.

The 2012 annual report of the Federal Ministry of Works, which was obtained by our correspondent, showed that the first revoked contract during the period was for the rehabilitation/construction of the Bida-Sacci-Nupeko-Pategi road, with contract number 5093 in Niger State.

The contract for the Panyam-Bokkos-Wamba road in Plateau State, awarded to State Company Nigeria Limited for an original contract sum of N5.338bn, was the second to be revoked.

The asphalt overlay of the Ajingi-Jahun-Kafin Hausa road with C/No.6041 in Jigawa State was also terminated last year.

The rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of the Ikom-Wula-Obudu road in Cross River State was the fourth contract to be terminated by the government.

Speaking on some other factors that may warrant delay in project delivery, Adewale said some managers employed unethical measures in a bid to get contracts.

He said, “By the time they accomplish this, they end up compromising some of the ideals guarding the professional conduct of project managers.

“Now, with respect to compromise, people do this a lot. You strive to get a project, you sell the project and fail to monitor it. Sometimes, the people you are selling the project to may be novices and this may lead to compromise. But this is not right.”

Speaking also on how unnecessary policy interference affects project delivery negatively, the Global Adviser, AAPM, Dr. Donald Agumenu, urged governments, particularly in Africa, to try and be consistent in their policies.

He said, “Inconsistency in policies does not help a nation. It affects project managers more. Whether you are a government contractor, a private project manager or an entrepreneur, policies made by the central or regional governments will definitely affect you.

“So, this is why we urge governments, especially those in Africa, to always try and be consistent in their policies as well as in their implementation.”

In his remarks, a representative of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr. Milam Godit, urged project managers to live up to expectation.

He gave an assurance of the FCTA’s support to ensuring that policies were implemented meticulously within its domain in order to give project managers the ability to operate in a conducive environment.

Adewale, the APPMA chairman, used the opportunity to speak on how the association planned to make a difference in Nigeria.

He said, “This body is formed by an international organisation. Most professional organisations in Nigeria today are indigenous, but we have introduced an international body to ours and, of course, looking at it holistically, you will agree that this is dynamic.

“Also, looking at the global factor in it, you will agree that no one wants to fail. Because if you fail internationally, you know the consequence will be far reaching. So, we try to ensure that what we are into as members of the APPMA is to ensure that globally, Nigeria is given the right recognition.

“This is because the world now sees Nigeria as one of the fastest developing nations on planet earth. There are a lot developmental works going on in Nigeria and the global community is watching.

“So, we have to make sure that as an association we live up to the task in terms of adequately managing projects and ensuring proper execution to help drive this fast growing economy of ours.”

The APPMA chairman expressed the belief that with the crop of projects mangers produced by the body, Nigeria would see a change in the manner in which contracts were being managed.

“This is because we want to drive the vision and mission of APPMA with the government and we must also ensure that the government appreciates and buy into this vision,” he said.