Nigeria: Consulting Architects, Engineers Demand Enforcement of Rules for Engaging Foreign Firms

19 May 2015

There is no way Nigerian Architects and Engineers or other professionals in the nation's building and construction industry can walk into any other country to practice without being subjected to the rules of engagement of that country. Nigeria's consulting Architects and Engineers are distraught that foreign professionals undertake the design and construction of public and private projects in Nigeria directly without adhering to conditions stipulated by even the Federal Government.

The Federal Government, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo reserved certain categories of jobs worth about N500 million and below for Nigerian professionals in the building and construction industry. This amount was worth something back then and every professional thought it looked good in the 'White Paper' where it was written. Regrettably, years after, it has not left the paper to get into practice. There is another document that guides the practice of professionals in the industry, which also stipulates how foreign professionals should be engaged. The regulatory bodies are mandated to enforce the tenets in the document but nobody seem to know what to do about foreign professionals taking up jobs without the mandatory local partnerships.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.