Causes of Construction Project Failures and Abandonemts in Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
- To examine the causes of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
- To examine the effect of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
- To determine the solution to the problem of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
This chapter gives an insight into various studies conducted by outstanding researchers, as well as explained terminologies with regards to the causes of construction project failures and abandonment in Nigeria.The chapter also gives a resume of the history and present status of the problem delineated by a concise review of previous studies into closely related problems.
Concept of Construction Project Abandonment
Longman Dictionary defines abandonment as the act of given up an action on something completely, with no certain intention of when to resume. When actions and activities on development projects are suspended without any stated time of resumption the projects are said to be abandoned. In most rural communities, this experience is not strange. There are traceable projects which were aimed at improving the lives of the members of the community in such condition. In some cases, most of the materials used for the project are already out of use due to delay in completion. Furthermore, a project is confirmed abandoned when the time lag between suspension and resumption is so much to attract loss and weakening of materials. According to Tamonu and Otto (2000), there are two time lags, the short-term and long-term. The short term lag, for short-term projects is between 1-2 years, long-term project is between 3-5 years. Where applicable, a project is termed abandoned when some of the physical features are seen wearing out and becoming out of use, such that will attract cost, for replacement. 1.2.1 Causes of Project Abandonment The list of the possible causes of project abandonment is endless. This paper will examine the major and contemporary ones.
Choice of Project site or Location
For community development projects not to be abandonment, the choice of the site is very important. Since the host community must of necessity be the custodian of the project, consensus must be reach on where the project is to be sited before embarking on it. This situation becomes more dangerous if the project is to be handled by government agencies or external bodies. To achieve the desired result, the institutions in the community such as the chiefs, youths, women and CDC members, (development stake holders) or beneficiaries need be consulted on the choice of the project site.
Embarking on Projects without need analysis
The guiding principle for the success of any project is that it is based on the felt need of the people. Any choice of project that did not represent the need of the majority of the members of the community is already heading for abandonment. The principle of need analysis stresses the identification of the needs of the community and prioritizing same in the order for which the members would expect them met, in the accomplishment of their development desires.
Lack of Social analysis of projects
Development projects which ignore the traditional values, and social organization of the intended beneficiaries, has very low success prospect and could be abandoned. No matter how important and most desired a project may be, to the members of a community, if the project go against the culture practices of the community, the project could be abandoned.
Project Imposition
By contemporary standard, for a community development projects to be executed without any hitch, it must have been initiated by the community members. When community development projects are initiated by the members of the community, there is the assurance that it had past the acid test of felt need and consultation already disused. The possibility of abandonment is no easier. But when community development projects are planned by government without any input by the community members the projects are seen as been imposed on the community and it could be abandoned at any time. Good enough (1963) quoted in Hanactor (2010) points out that “development project undertaken in the spirit of imposing our will on others and getting them see the folly of their way and the wisdom of our counsel invariably meets with resistance”. This account for the failure or abandonment of most federal and state projects in Nigeria.
Improper financial analysis
Financial analysis is very important for the execution of community development projects. No matter the type of project, sufficient funds are needed for the completion of the project. Most community development projects usually require counterpart funding, when one or more parties to the finding fails the resultant effect will be insufficient funds for the project, and the project definitely will be abandoned.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes methods and procedures used in conducting this research work. The description of the procedure is done under the following headings:
RESEARCH DESIGN
The surveys research method was used for this study. This was considered appropriate because survey design generally can be used to effectively investigate problems in realistic settings. The survey technique will also allow the researcher to examine several variables and use multi-variate statistics to analyze data.
AREA OF THE STUDY
The study was conducted in AkwaIbom State, Nigeria. Akwaibom is the most beautiful cities in Nigeria. The population of AkwaIbom State, according to the AkwaIbom State Government is 9.5 million, a number disputed by the Nigerian Government and judged unreliable by the National Population Commission of Nigeria. The study was carried out Champion Breweries plcUyoAkwaIbom State.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
The population consists of the entire populace of UyoAkwaIbom State.
SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
Out of the population, 50 persons were selected using the simple random sampling (srs) technique. This was as a result of time and financial constraints.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
This chapter is devoted to the presentation, analysis and interpretation of the data gathered in the course of this study. The data are based on the number of copies of the questionnaire completed and returned by the respondents. The data are presented in tables and the analysis is done using t-Test. The chi-square test was used in the validation of the hypothesis.
CHAPTER FIVE
FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The objectives of the study was to
- To examine the causes of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
- To examine the effect of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
- To determine the solution to the problem of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
Findings from the study revealed the following:
- Construction project failures and abandonments militate against the development of Nigeria.
- Incompetency leads to construction project failures and abandonments in Nigeria.
- Construction project failure and abandonment does not encourage foreign investments.
There is a significant effect of construction project failure and abandonment on the socio economic development of Nigeria.
REFERENCES
- Akindoyemi, A. (1989), the Management of Abandoned Project, Journal of Nigerian Institute of Construction projects,Vol. 1, Iss. 2, pp. 27.
- Ayodele, E.O. and Alabi, O. M. (2011), Abandonment of Construction Projects in Nigeria: Causes and Effects;Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences (JETEMS), Vol. 2, Iss. 2, pp. 142-145.
- Gardiner, P.D. (2005). Project Management: A Strategic Planning Approach: Palgrave Macmillan, USA and UK.
- Kotangora, O. O. (1993); Project Abandonment, Nigerian Tribune.
- O’Flaherty, B. (1993) Abandoned Construction projects: A Stochastic Analysis; Journal of Urban Economics,Vol. 34, pp. 43-74.
- Osemenan, I. (1987); Project Abandonment; New Watch Magazine, Vol. 1, pp. 15.
- Spelman, W. (1998); Abandoned Construction projectss: Magnets for Crime; Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol. 21,National Vacant Properties Campaign.
- Amirize, B. (2004). Community Development Project Management.Nigeria, Olu-Alade printing press.
- Ayo E. J. (1988). Development Planning in Nigeria Ibadan, University Press limited.