NAN-H-73
Infrastructure
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, April 12, 2017 (NAN) Kwara Government says the State Infrastructure Development Fund (IF-K) has proven to be a very efficient and effective window for funding critical infrastructure in this period of recession.
Alhaji Muideen Alalade, the state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, made the assertion at the opening of a two-day workshop in Ilorin.
It was organised by the Kwara Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop is: “Overcoming the Challenges to Capital Project Delivery in a Recessive Construction Market.’’
Alalade said the new scheme had guaranteed full funding of capital projects across the state.
He listed the project to include new campuses for the state-owned university in Osi and Ilesha-Baruba, Diamond Underpass project at Geri-Alimi and dualisation of Sango-UITH Road, Ilorin.
“In Nigeria and indeed around the world, the construction sector is one of the most visible indices of development.
“When an economy is booming, the prosperity is most visible in the construction sector as buildings and construction work sites spring up.
“Similarly, the construction industry is one of the first to suffer when an economy goes into recession.
“It is, therefore, of vital importance for infrastructure development to grow the state economy and make life bearable for the people,’’ Alalade said.
The commissioner said that the state was partnering with capable and reputable private organisations to embark on mass housing project for civil servants and the less-privileged in the state.
He said that this was all in an attempt to boost the economy of the state and improve the welfare of the people through construction works.
In his opening remarks, Mr Samuel Egeruan, the state Chairman of NIQS, said that the workshop was organised to establish and increase the visibility and impact of quantity surveyors in the state.
Egeruan said that theme of the workshop was borne out of the statistical report that the demand for infrastructure development was high, while the finance to fund the infrastructure development was on the decline.
The chairman also underscored the role of quantity surveyors in construction works, saying that only the professionals were trained and licensed to act as cost consultants. (NAN)
AUO/AJA/GOK
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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi/Olagoke Olatoye