Nigeria’s construction industry must shift from paper-based blueprints to digital tools if it is to overcome its long-standing inefficiencies and meet the demands of a modern economy.
This was the charge from the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, who called for the adoption of emerging technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Blockchain.
Speaking at a two-day workshop of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), FCT Chapter, themed “Policy Shifts and Industry Trends,” Inuwa, represented by Dr. Yahaya Onimisi, the Agency’s Acting Director of Project Management, stressed that digital transformation is no longer an option but a necessity.
“These technologies are not just tools; they are foundations for the future,” he said. “By embracing innovation, Nigeria’s Quantity Surveyors can drive smarter, faster, and more transparent infrastructure development.”
Inuwa pointed out that BIM can serve as a digital twin for construction projects, while AI and data analytics can predict risks, improve accuracy, and streamline processes.
Blockchain and cloud collaboration tools, he added, can enhance transparency and efficiency across the entire construction value chain.
The NITDA boss also acknowledged the industry’s recurring challenges, from delays and cost overruns to entrenched resistance to change.
However, he described these not as obstacles, but as opportunities to reposition Nigerian Quantity Surveyors from routine cost measurement to more strategic, data-driven roles.
“Digital transformation is not merely about adopting new technology but about fundamentally changing business processes, culture, and skills to leverage opportunities in the digital age,” he explained.
To accelerate adoption, Inuwa called for stronger partnerships between NITDA and NIQS in areas such as capacity building, innovation labs, policy alignment, and the development of a sector-specific digital roadmap aligned with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0.
He cited the agency’s ongoing collaborations with professional bodies such as the Nigerian Medical Association, Nigerian Union of Journalists, and the Nigerian Union of Teachers as proof that such partnerships can deliver real impact.
“With continuous learning, strategic investments, and stronger collaborations, Nigerian Quantity Surveyors can not only withstand technological disruption but also thrive in it,” Inuwa concluded. “The shift from blueprints to bytes is no longer a distant goal — it is the path forward.”
