The importance of effective transport and project management systems in Nigeria (1)
By Transportation project management generally refers to but not limited to delivery of entire plants, large consignments of industrial equipment and manufacturing equipment. It is considered to be the most complex of all cargo movements and requires a great skill, professionalism, training, lifting, planning, coordination, team work and movement of very large equipment to deliver a certain task within a specified time frame.
It covers pre-move project analysis, establishing a working group, management, route planning, optimization, cost planning, permit handling, customs clearance, attendance to authorities, loading, planning, insurance, warehousing, storage. Handling of such projects must be done by individuals with knowledge and experience in all aspects of movement of goods to ensure greater efficiency in the transport system.
Transportation is the gateway of the economy of any nation and a major contributor to economic development of any society. This contribution however depends on the availability of the necessary transport infrastructure which are necessary drivers of national economic development, which can cover very long term periods from conception to completion, one of the major challenges of Nigeria’s social, infrastructural and economic conditions is the enormous waste of resources due to project delay, cost escalation as a result of abandonment, inconsistency in government ideas and choice of projects to implement.
The major causes of project delays and cost escalation in Nigeria are as follows but not limited to the following points; inefficient manpower and materials systems, alternative financial strategies, increased contingency allowance pattern, lack of political will and continuity in government ideas of projects to implement, ineffective monitoring process, delays in the planning approval procedure.
Transport management infrastructure is recognized as a major source of driving the economy of any nation which includes good roads network, airports, railways, water ways, pipelines, port, harbours and so the need for a better coordinated and well-structured system is highly important to bring about the needed change and progress. It is observed from the length and breadth of Nigeria that decaying infrastructure is one of the challenges affecting our nation that needs very urgent attention, as this has lingered on for a long time from past governments and the urgent need to address these challenges calls for more attention to support the efforts of this present government in rebuilding all abandoned projects and re-position our infrastructural systems.
In bridging the huge infrastructural gaps, there is an urgent need for a thorough appraisal of the process of infrastructure delivery in Nigeria. The alarming rates of project delay, abandonment and cost escalations in different sectors from the local, state and federal government for decades have caused wastage of billions of dollars for decades and some of the projects have completely wasted away as a result of abandonment. It is high time the various legislative arms of government both at the federal and state governments take stock of the total number of uncompleted or abandoned projects in the nation and make the necessary recommendations on how best to complete or sell them to add more resources to the economy of our nation.
These challenges hugely affected infrastructural provisions while new projects are being awarded, leaving the old ones to waste away. The importance of works, construction and transport sectors to the task of bridging this deficit or gap is obvious because of its social and economic relevance to the growth of any nation. The multiplier effect of a well-structured project monitoring systems contributes distinctively to the general smooth progress of any successful economy globally, such as the case with first world nations who are relentlessly working day and night to improve upon its project monitoring and management systems.
The present government of President Muhammadu Buhari must be commended in all its efforts of establishing a very efficient project monitoring and management systems, especially after the Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, recently disclosed the list of ongoing and completed projects across the 36 states in the nation which are as follows: Abia state rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt road section 1, Umuahia-Aba township rail/road bridge crossing. Amaudo (Ntalakwu-Bende) flood & erosion control project, cassava processing plant, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Enugu-Port-Harcourt dual carriage way section 1, Lokpanta-Umuahia Tower, Abia. Patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia road, Adamawa state reconstruction off Yola Mubi bridge at Kaa’a Shiwa and Mile 30- Kwambla road rehabilitation of Gombe-Numan-Yola road, phase 1. Patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Ngurore Mayobelwa road. Akwa Ibom state construction of Ididiep-Ekpeyong 10.125km asphalt pavement. University of Uyo erosion and flood control project Ikot Ebok/Mobil Pegasus School flood and erosion control project, Ikot-Ekpene transmission sub-station. Patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Ete-Abak road. Anambra state Nanka recent landslide project, phase 1, remediation works on Nanka/Oko gully erosion control. Patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Nnewi-Ekwulobia-Umunze- Ibinta road.
Others are: in Bayelsa state, construction of Ogbia Nembe 25km road, Sagbama erosion rehabilitation works and cassava processing plant. Patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Mbiama-Yenagoa road. In Bauchi state, patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Bauchi-Gombe road. Rehabilitation of Boto Dam, Tafawa Balewa LGA, Bauchi state construction of road in Boto Town, Tafawa Balewa LGA, Bauchi state. Benue state construction of Loko-Oweto bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States.
To be continued tomorrow
Festus Okotie