CAUSES OF
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FAILURES AND ABANDONMENT IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Abandoned projects and construction failure
including building and other civil engineering infrastructure development project
like houses, churches, schools, roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, air port, sea
port etc. litter the whole Nigeria. Osemenan (1987) reported that Nigeria has
become the “world’s junk-yard of abandoned and failed projects worth billions
of naira and it is greatly unthinkable that Nigeria blessed with so great
potentials in the building and construction industry can experience such
magnitude of project failure and abandonment. According to another report by
Kotangora (1993) there are about 4000 uncompleted or abandoned project
belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria with an estimated cost of above
N 300 billion which will take 30 years to complete at the present execution
capacity of government, also according to him this issue of abandonment and construction
project failure is been left without adequate attention for too long which is
now having a multiplier effect on the construction industry in particular and
the national economy as a whole. The building and construction industry plays a
very dominant role in the economy of any nation. A healthy economy usually
experience an increase in building and construction activities, but in a
depressed economy, the incidence of project abandonment and construction
failures tends to be more prevalent. Akindoyeni (1989) qualitatively reasoned
that some of the causes of project abandonment and construction failure in
Nigeria are deaths of client, inability of client to attract fund and lack of
good planning.
The abandonment of development projects
is the act of discontinuing any activities or maintenance works on such development
project within a time frame of the contract agreement and with no intention of
returning back to the development (Spelman, 1993). Similarly, O’Flaherty (1993)
while reflecting on property development projects suggest that it is when an
owner or developer is ceasing to provide the required maintenance management to
a developed property. There could also be construction failure due to improper
planning.
However, real property development projects
being a capital intensive undertaking should be critically analyzed to ascertain
its feasibility and viability before embarking on it. But, on several occasions
and as it had been observed, governments, contractors and agencies have
abandoned development projects mid-way into construction and completion.
The causes and effects of these
development projects abandonments and construction failure are not just
peculiar to a particular reason rather cut across several reasons (Ayodele and
Alabi, 2011), and as well as creating a total dwindling effects on the values of
developed properties located close and within the vicinity. The expected
prominence of any earmarked development projects is to be completed, while at
the same time, adding values to the built environment aesthetics. Although, development
projects are temporary endeavors undertaken to create a unique product and
services with a defined beginning and ending date (Gardner, 2005). The
accomplishment of such purposes should be realized at all times otherwise
needless of such development (Gardner, 2005). The development projects specific
in the study framework is infrastructural projects (such as; house,
electricity, road, schools, and drainage). However, the study purpose is to
investigate and assess the causes and effects of development projects abandonment
and construction failure in Nigeria.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The
unceasing abandonment and failure of development projects is so shocking in the
developing countries such that Nigerian has remained one of the countries in
such difficulty (Ayodele and Alabi, 2011; Kotangora, 1993; Osemenan, 1987).
Therefore, the significance that the incessant abandonment of projects and
construction failure would bring several effects on the aesthetics of the
environment, real properties and its values and the economy cannot be
overemphasized since some of the development projects provide the basic services
that should meet the needs of the people. However, this study will examine the
causes of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
following are the objectives of this study:
1. To
examine the
causes of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
2. To examine the effect of construction
project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
3. To determine the solution to the
problem of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What
are the causes
of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria?
2. What is the effect of construction
project failure and abandonments in Nigeria?
3. What is the solution to the problem of
construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria?
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
following are the significance of this study:
1. This
study will educate the general public and the experts in the building industry
on the causes of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria with
a view of proffering solution to the problem.
2. This
research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers
interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if
applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This
study on causes
of construction project failure and abandonments in Nigeria will cover the
issues of abandoned projects, failed project and all other abandoned
infrastructural facilities.
LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the
efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature
or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire
and interview).
Time constraint– The researcher will
simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently
will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
REFERENCES
Akindoyemi,
A. (1989), the Management of Abandoned Project, Journal of Nigerian
Institute of Building, 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 Building: 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 Buildings: Magnets for Crime; Journal of Criminal Justice,
Vol. 21, National Vacant Properties Campaign.