Professional Indemnity Insurance Practices Among Quantity Surveying Firms in Rivers State

Professional indemnity insurance (PII) protects quantity surveying firms from financial liability arising from professional negligence claims, yet its uptake among Nigerian practitioners remains limited and poorly understood. This study investigates professional indemnity insurance practices among quantity surveying firms in Rivers State. A descriptive survey design was employed, with 75 registered quantity surveying firms forming the sampling frame. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation. Findings indicate that fewer than 35% of surveyed firms maintain active professional indemnity insurance policies, with cost, low awareness of risk exposure, and infrequent client enforcement as the primary barriers to uptake. The study finds that firms involved in major oil industry and government infrastructure projects are more likely to carry PII due to client contractual requirements. Uninsured firms demonstrate higher risk exposure to claims arising from cost estimation errors, specification omissions, and contract document deficiencies. Recommendations include the introduction of mandatory PII as a condition for NIQS corporate membership renewal, the development of group PII schemes to reduce premiums for smaller firms, and client education on the importance of selecting insured consultants. This research contributes to professional risk management literature in the South South geopolitical zone and supports calls for regulatory reform of professional liability standards in Nigeria's construction industry. Keywords: professional indemnity insurance, quantity surveying firms, Rivers State, professional liability, risk management