Register In 3 Months Or Face Sanctions, Regulator Warns Unlicensed Project Managers

Nigeria’s project management regulator has announced a three-month countdown before enforcement actions begin against unlicensed project managers, signalling a nationwide push to standardise project delivery and reduce waste.

Speaking at the 2025 Annual Conference and Sixth Induction Ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) in Abuja, registrar-general, Henry Mbadiwe, said the enforcement unit will be fully operational within two to three months. Its mandate is to ensure all project managers comply with licensing requirements under Nigeria’s new project management law.

“The law establishing project management regulations in Nigeria is clear: to manage projects in this country, you must be licensed. “As long as there is a project to be delivered, a licensed project manager must be at the head of that delivery,” Mbadiwe said.

The enforcement unit will operate across all sectors, Mbadiwe said, targeting companies and institutions that perform project management functions without licensed personnel. Nationwide audits, inspections of ongoing projects, and verification of licenses will be conducted to ensure full compliance with the law.

He stressed that the law applied to everyone, whether engineers, architects, IT professionals, or holders of foreign certifications such as PMI or APM. “Anything that has a beginning and an end in this country must be led by a licensed project manager,” he said.

Mbadiwe cited the economic rationale for the crackdown, noting that Nigeria loses approximately $4 billion annually to corrective and repeat works caused by poor project oversight. “Unlicensed and unregulated project management has contributed to massive inefficiencies. With licensed project managers, projects will be delivered on time, within budget, and with less waste,” he said.
The enforcement unit will also supervise CIPMN’s accreditation of project management programs at universities, polytechnics, and professional institutions, ensuring practitioners are trained to global standards. Foreign-certified project managers will be required to register with the regulator before practising in Nigeria.

“The next two to three months are critical. We want everyone to understand their obligations, align with the law, and prepare for full compliance once the enforcement unit begins operations,” Mbadiwe said.

CIPMN president Emmanuel Afolayan, reiterated the Council’s commitment to the institute’s mandate. “Our mandate is clear, and by the grace of God, we will adhere to it and do everything possible to ensure our country is a better place for all its citizens,” he said.

He emphasised that only licensed project managers should lead projects, regardless of professional background or foreign certification.

He also added that the operationalisation of the enforcement unit is expected to mark a turning point in Nigeria’s project delivery landscape, reducing abandoned infrastructure, improving fiscal accountability, and strengthening investor confidence across public and private sector projects.