Engr. Victor Esiemokhai
An international Project management professional, Engr. Victor Esiemokhai, has attributed the causes of project failure and the spate of abandoned infrastructural projects across Nigeria, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to the lack of involvement of competent project management professionals.
Esiemokahai, who is the Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of Vonos Project Management and Automotive Engineering, said the non-involvement of capable project management consultants to act as an intermediary between the government and contractors to ensure efficient and timely delivery of quality projects is responsible for the failure of critical projects across the Territory.
Speaking with Newsmen weekend in Abuja, Esiemokhai advised the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to engage a qualified project professional to assist him in his quest to transform Abuja into a World-class city.
He identified time management as one of the major causes of project failure and blamed it on the absence of a project Consultant, who would look at the scope, time, and cost and ensure that both parties keep to the terms of the contractual agreement.
Esiemokahi explained that a project is a broad concept, with multiple tasks with three key elements such as purposes, tasks, and time that should be properly defined to achieve the desired result.
He emphasized that the scope of work in any project is determined by the client who specifies what is to be achieved.
He noted that the engagement of a competent Consultant project management body would prevent the Contractor from causing unnecessary delay by asking for variations that can affect the completion date of such a project.
According to him, for every project awarded, there should be an external body to supervise, not the government officials that can be easily compromised.
The project management expert, who has worked in several countries across the globe including Qatar, United Kingdom, insisted that elsewhere, the services of a project manager are more important than the actual execution of the scheme.
“Let me tell you, when I was in Qatar, there was no project that could be executed without first employing the services of a certified project manager,” Esiemokhai said.
He stated that once a contract is awarded, the Contractor must submit a comprehensive project management schedule.
The Consultant revealed that in civilized societies, any contractor who deliberately delayed a project will be compelled to pay for the loss and appropriately sanctioned to serve as a deterrent.
Speaking further, the young entrepreneur who has over 56 young Nigerians working in his multi-million Naira automotive company wants the government to create an enabling environment for private entities to thrive.
The innovative Edo State-born International project Consultant commended the pragmatic leadership style of the Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
He said he is satisfied with the commitment shown by the FCT Minister toward the development of the FCT.
Esiemokhai, however, advised that the Minister should endeavor to engage a capable project management expert as an adviser to assist him.
He noted that part of the schedule of the professional will be to coordinate and ensure that the specification, quality, and time of projects are properly monitored.
