Experience or a portfolio plays a vital role in determining whether a person who applies for a job will be shortlisted or not. In the case of projects, for example, construction projects, there are companies that have a good track record of projects they have delivered over the years. A well-delivered project always gives an edge to such companies. A UK rail line company happens to be at a crossroads with a project and Nigerians.
The Nigerian government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Messrs MPH Rail Development Limited, a UK-based company, for the massive project construction of the Port Harcourt–Enugu–Calabar–Abuja Standard Gauge Rail Line.
The Federal Government promoted this through Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, the Minister of Transportation.
The project, which was under a PPP arrangement, has raised concerns and cancellations from Nigerians on social media. Their reasons stemmed from the company’s lack of technical knowledge. The company, which happens to have no history of concrete projects, is a worry to Nigerians. On the other hand, the company, which is apparently a multinational, has no website.
Albeit there were claims that the said company has Nigerian directors, their clamour is hinged on the limited time of their appointment and the satisfactory delivery of the project.
Are their concerns valid despite the former aide’s position that there is already established work—Itakpe Standard Gauge Rail, from Warri to Port Harcourt, and from Itakpe to Abuja to get Port Harcourt—Abuja Standard Gauge Rail?
By Chidimma NWAFOR
