The Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and Member Representing Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims has called on the Federal Government to mandate all Ministry, Department and Agencies to earmark certain portions of their annual projects for indigenous companies.
The Federal Lawmaker made the call through a motion titled “the need to encourage the growth and development of indigenous construction companies in Nigeria” raised by him during the plenary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, 19th March, 2024.
While presenting the motion, Rep. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims called on the house to note that indigenous construction companies are indigenous business entities registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and other relevant authorities such as the PENCOM, ITF, COREN etc. with the sole aim of engaging in construction works within the country.
Further aware that the areas in which the indigenous companies are lacking behind their foreign counterparts includes equipment, ownership, compliance level with Health, Safety and Environment(HSE) standards, organisation structure and financial capacity, He in his prayers also urged the Federal Government to ensure tax relief and exemption duty for the importation of heavy equipment to Indigenous construction Companies.
Also concerned that foreign companies have dominated the Nigerian construction industry while taking cognizance of the fact that if not addressed properly, indigenous companies in Nigeria may face closure; Rep Halims equally called on the house to urge the Federal Government to provide equal opportunities for indigenous companies to thrive as well as mandate the committee on Public Procurement, Customs and Excise as well as the House committee on Finance to ensure compliance.
After expressing concerns that Nigeria, after sixty three years of independence lacks indigenous construction companies that can compete with foreign construction companies for projects such as port facilities, railways, major bridges, air run ways, etc; He called on the house to be resolved in his prayers.
