Business
Bureau Tasks Surveyors Against Corruption
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has advised members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to address corruption in the industry.
Director-General, BPP,Mamman Ahmadu, gave the charge when the executives of NIQS, led by its President, Mr. Femi Onashile, visited him in his office in Abuja last Friday.
The BPP chief commended NIQS for its readiness to partner with Federal Government’s agencies to reduce construction costs and ensure compliance with best practices.
According to Ahmadu, corruption cuts across ministries and agencies, saying it was high time professionals, particularly cost experts in construction, did more than talking to check corruption.
He urged professional bodies to punish members found guilty of corruption.
Onashile canvassed the adoption of stricter project monitoring.
He said by limiting BPP’s oversight to due diligence at pre-award stage of projects and not monitoring the projects, corruption would thrive.
“For BPP to make better impact in delivering value-for-money, it must take its oversight influence beyond the pre-award of contracts; even throughout the construction phase of the projects. This is to ensure that approvals are not circumvented through the possible corrupt compromise of either quality standards or the specified sizes of such projects or both to reduce the actual costs without passing the cost reduction to the government,” Onashile said.
He implored the BPP to develop an alternative contract form, adding that while the one they are using is working well in civil engineering projects, it is not in building projects.
Acknowledging BPP’s effort in fast-tracking due diligence and ensuring faster take off of projects, the NIQS chief called for the engagement of more quantity surveyors in the agency to enable it discharge its oversight effectively.
“We believe as experts in cost and procurement management of capital projects from conception to completion, we have vital roles to play in prudent costing of projects, procurement management and project monitoring to ensure better earned value for money,” Onashile added.
Meanwhile, BPP has employed a transaction adviser on contracts.
By this, BPP hopes to cut the cost of construction projects.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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