The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has accused ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of weakening accountability in project execution by failing to enforce professional standards, warning that the lapse could be contributing to massive losses from abandoned projects.
The institute said it would push for stricter enforcement of project management regulations and launch a nationwide investigation into abandoned projects, with preliminary estimates putting the potential financial waste at between ₦12 trillion and ₦17 trillion.
CIPMN Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer, Henry Ifeanyi Mbadiwe, said the investigation would establish the scale of the problem and identify those responsible for projects that failed after receiving government funding.
He spoke during an engagement with journalists, explaining that the figures were preliminary and would require extensive data collection before the actual losses could be determined.
Mbadiwe argued that requiring government agencies to verify project managers’ licences before approving contracts would make it easier to establish responsibility when projects are abandoned or poorly executed.
He said the requirement should apply to federal, state and local government projects, as well as relevant private-sector developments.
“If somebody wants to obtain a no-objection certificate from the Bureau of Public Procurement or clearance for a contract award, and the law is enforced, do you not think we would know the project manager responsible for every federal government project in Nigeria?” he asked.
The CIPMN chief executive accused MDAs of failing to make professional regulation effective, leaving the institute with limited capacity to ensure that project managers operate within the law.
“The real issue is that MDAs are not making it easy to regulate project management in Nigeria and ensure that project management professionals operate within the law,” he said.
As part of efforts to strengthen oversight, the institute plans to establish a searchable database of licensed project managers.
The database would enable employers, public institutions and members of the public to verify professional credentials and distinguish licensed practitioners from individuals making unverified claims.
Mbadiwe said the institute had also resolved to publish the names of licensed project managers, adding that the initiative would clarify the professional standing of those who had failed to meet their obligations.
He said improved verification could also assist investigations into project failures, including building collapses, by helping establish the qualifications of professionals involved.
The planned investigation will examine abandoned projects, the funds committed to them and the wider economic consequences of poor project delivery.
CIPMN said it would work with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and governments at all levels to obtain the information needed to determine the scale of the problem.
The institute is also collaborating with the National Universities Commission and universities to strengthen project management education and improve the supply of qualified professionals.
However, the success of the proposed reforms will depend on access to reliable project records, cooperation from government agencies and the consistent enforcement of professional requirements.
The institute said effective regulation was essential to ensuring that public projects were properly planned, professionally managed and completed in line with their objectives.