Political interference is a major culprit behind Nigeria’s numerous abandoned projects, the Institute of Physical Assets and Infrastructure Management (IPAIM) has said.
In a statement on Monday (today, July 29) in Lagos, Dr McCarthy Ijiebor, President of IPAIM, expressed concern over the nation’s lack of comprehensive data on its numerous uncompleted projects.
Lamenting that projects are often initiated in Nigeria based on political considerations rather than economic or social needs, Ijiebor agonised: “Projects are sometimes initiated or abandoned based on political expediency, such as to win votes or appease certain constituencies.
“They may also be abandoned or stalled due to party politics, with opposition parties opposing projects initiated by rival parties.”
He, therefore, called for the strengthening of institutions responsible for project implementation to ensure that projects when started are completed, emphasising the need for such institutions to be independent, effective, and held accountable at every stage of the project process.
Ijiebor lamented that due to the weakness of institutions, political leaders are rarely held accountable for abandoned projects in Nigeria, stressing the importance of transparency in project initiation, funding and implementation.
Accordingly, he called for collaboration and continuity across governments and political parties to ensure that projects are not only completed but also serve their intended duration.
“Projects abandonment is ubiquitous, it is everywhere; some are started with fanfare and then abandoned midway; some are initiated for political reasons, and when you assess their usability, you often find they do not make sense,” the IPAIM president further agonised, reiterating the importance of focusing on the viability of projects, their asset value, and their contribution to the public’
In other words, there is a need for thorough needs assessments before any project is to be embarked upon, Ijiebor surmised.
