Legal practitioners have been reminded of their role in negotiating and drafting construction contracts, project financing and regulatory compliance documentations.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, gave the reminder in Asaba on Tuesday while declaring open the second National Conference on Construction and Infrastructure Projects, with the theme : “Making Construction and Infrastructure Projects Work Better”.
The Governor, who was represented by the State Attorney – General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, said the conference should serve as a significant platform for robust discussions on problem sharing, and collaboration among policy makers, legal experts, engineers, investors and other professionals in the construction industry.
He noted that the theme of the conference spoke directly to the challenges and opportunities in the industry, describing infrastructure as the backbone of any thriving economy, and no nation could achieve sustainable development without a well structured and well executed infrastructure strategy.
While acknowledging that Nigeria faced significant infrastructure deficits, the Governor pointed out that the challenges could be overcome through effective policies, a robust legal frameworks and collaborative engagements.
Oborevwori challenged the conference to provide insights into global best practices, innovative solutions and better reforms for the construction industry, adding that it should be a platform for unlocking business and investment opportunities, while expressing confidence that new partnerships would be forged through meaningful networking and engagements that would lead to more substantial investment in the nation’s infrastructure sector.
He told the gathering that his administration had prioritized infrastructure development because government recognized that it was key to unlocking economic opportunities and improving the quality of life of the people.
The Governor stated that the MORE agenda had guided his administration in making huge investments in road construction, housing development, educational infrastructure, healthcare facilities and other physical projects across the 25 local government areas of the state.
Addressing the conference, the Chairman, NBA, Session on Business Law, Ozofu Ogiemudia, said Nigeria’s I frastructure was pivotal to economic growth and development, stressing that the quality of infrastructure directly impacted on industrial growth and quality of life of the people.
She stated that it was, therefore, imperative to address the nation’s infrastructure challenges, which the conference provided an opportunity to deliberate on with a view to achieving the goal
In a welcome address, the Chairman, Construction and Infrastructure Projects Committee, NBA, Session on Business Law, Andrew Odum, SAN, said the theme of the Conference was both apt and timely, adding that the building and construction industry was inextricably linked to industrialization and structural development of any nation.
Odum explained that the main goal of the construction industry was to e sure that projects were successfully completed within the constraints of best quality, and minimum cost possible, pointing out that the industry faced the challenge of inadequate legislation, escalating cost of construction, shortage of skilled labour, poor quality of products and services, building collapses, among others
He said the conference was aimed at making construction and infrastructure projects more efficient, cost effective and sustainable, stressing the need to explore the strategies and innovative technologies that would ensure that projects were delivered on time within budgetary provisions and in alignment with the people they served.
The event featured a keynote address by the Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, represented by a one-time Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ukumakama and goodwill messages.
