Construction Projects In Nigeria Research Articles

Determining the essential skill requirements for construction manaagers' practice in Nigeria

The study investigates the essential skill requirements for construction managers in Nigeria. The objective is to determine the most important skill requirements for construction managers. A structured questionnaire was administered to construction professionals who worked recently with construction managers in their recently completed projects. Snowballing sampling technique was used to select seventy (70) respondents, however only forty (40) responses were used for the data analysis. The results indicate that essential skills required by the construction managers for their jobs include: procedural-industrial skills, quality assurance/management, listening skills, knowledge of codes and regulations, sustainable skills and ability to learn skills. These skills are important for the construction manager to practice effectively in Nigeria and other developing countries. These findings have seven practical implications to professional bodies, Universities and other trainers of construction managers, whose present curricula may be deficient in knowledge areas in industry (business, managerial, personal and technical). These institutions may need to re-orientate and improve the curricula for newly trained construction managers to cope with current skill requirements. On the other hand, recruiting agencies should ensure that job applicants with the right hard and soft skills are engaged as construction managers. Consequently efficient and effective management of future construction projects in Nigeria and other developing countries can be ensured.

A Study of Chinese Construction Projects in Nigeria And Work Efficiency

A Study of Chinese Construction Projects in Nigeria And Work Efficiency

Factors Affecting Contractors' Bidding Decisions for Construction Projects in Nigeria

Bidding is the most common means by which contractors obtain work. The construction industry accounts for approximately three quarters of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the country. It is generally believed that wrong bidding practice is a major contributor to the construction industry's inefficiency. This means that any improvement in bidding has the potential to enhance the industry's performance, improve the quality of the decision-making process and assist in achieving the strategic objective of contracting organisations. In an effort to uncover the main factors that characterise the bid/no bid decision of contracting organisations, a study to evaluate the factors that affect contractors' decisions to bid for a project and to evaluate the importance of the identified factors to decision makers was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used as the principal instrument for collecting data from respondents. A total sample of 100 was drawn from these collections of construction contractors from Lagos state. Fifty were completed and returned, representing a 50% response rate. Frequency, percentage, mean score and Spearman's correlation were used in analysing data collected for the study. The results indicate that the financial capability of clients, availability of capital and availability of material are the most important factors that contractors consider when making a bid/no bid decision. The study also reveals that competition (number and identity of competitors) does not have significant influence on contractors' bidding decisions. The study recommends that contractors should also build their reputations in the construction industry by acquiring technical competencies and capabilities as these qualities have become important considerations in assessing contractors' competiveness, as well as being key indicators of successful tendering in construction projects.

Change Order Management Factors in Building Projects in Northern Nigeria

<p>A change is an amendment or addition with respect to the original plans, specification or other contract documents and vital factor in construction project management. A change order is an instruction from an employer approving a change. Construction projects in Nigeria have suffered deleteriously as a consequence of extensive change orders, which has manifested in cost and time overruns, disputes, arbitration, litigation and even the abandonment of projects and this negatively impacts on the efficiency of the Nigerian construction industry.This paper explore the extent change order management strategies correlate with overall building project in Nigeria. Thirty strategies for managing change order were identified through intensive literature search. Twenty -one factors peculiar to the Nigerian construction industry were used to develop a questionnaire. A total of 323 questionnaires were administered through stratified random sampling to respondents in the cities of Abuja, Kano and Bauchi. The study targeted construction Consultants namely Architects, Quantity Surveyors Building Engineers, Service Engineer (Electrical & Mechanical), Contractor and Building owners in three sub-study cities. The study recorded an overall response rate of 80.8 %. Using SPSS version 22, the questionnaire was subjected to reliability test. Statistical analysis was used using average index; spearman correlation coefficient; factor analysis and multiple regression were used to analysis data from survey questionnaire. The study reveal that change orders are better manage at the design stage and that clear and thorough project brief, better initial planning and thorough detailing of design are the three topmost management strategies. The study established that overall project success is impacted by change order management with a R<sup>2</sup> of 0.252, meaning that change order management at the design stage accounts for 25.2% of the variation in building project outcomes. The Spearman's (rho) also show strong agreement among respondents. The study concluded that proper adoption and use of project implementation phase principles by project sponsor, increased effort at the design stage of projects by project participant and allocation of adequate resources to project requirement will help minimize change orders in project delivery in Northern Nigeria.</p>

Road project termination and rebidding strategies in Nigeria

Purpose– This paper aims to identify and examine valid project termination reasons and the rebidding strategies of road construction project. Rebidding strategies is one of the measures to restructure terminated/troubled road construction project.Design/methodology/approach– An instrument which comprised 82 items entitled “Project Termination and Rebidding Strategies in Road Construction Projects in Nigeria” (PTRS) was developed to evaluate 60 randomly sampled road projects using qualified project/site managers and engineers as project respondents for the purpose of securing valid information on the terminated and rebid road construction projects. Mean, standard deviation and factor analysis shall be used as analytical tools in identifying valid termination reasons and rebidding strategies and as well as the relationship between them through regression analysis.Findings– The paper’s findings revealed major project termination reasons and rebidding strategies. It further indicated significant relationship between variables which constitutes project termination reasons and rebidding strategies through regression analysis.Practical implications– The outcome of the paper could be of immense benefits during the procurement phase of public project, especially regarding road construction. Stakeholders involved in the road procurement should seek relevant information concerning the road project reprocurement from the expert prior to contractual obligations.Originality/value– Major challenges confronting the road construction project involve inappropriate procurement practices which frequently culminate into late deliveries of project. Rebidding strategies serve as a model through which cost, time and quality needs of the project client can be reassured in restructuring a terminated/troubled project.

Strategic Supply Chain Framework as an Effective Approach to Procurement of Public Construction Projects in Nigeria

A lot of abandoned construction projects, and failed projects in the Nigerian construction industry due to the ignorance to adopt and implement modern procurement strategy prompt this research work. A survey was conducted on 38 procurement practitioners at the Federal Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development, Major contractors, and Tier suppliers. The result from the survey showed that 78% of respondents confirmed that the current Nigerian public procurement system is less effective towards achieving an improved construction performance and the successful delivering of construction projects. More so, 22% of respondents argued that the Nigerian current procurement system is effective to achieve an improved construction performance if properly practiced in accordance with the Nigerian procurement act (2007). However, 74% of respondents believed that the strategic supply chain framework, as an approach to public procurement in Nigeria, will be more effective towards successful delivering of construction projects, and achieving improved construction performance. Also, the result from the three interviews conducted during this research showed that the reasons for the poor Nigerian current procurement system is attributed to poor pre-tendering and tendering processes, poor supply chain integration and management, Political interference and inference, and the corruption amongst the procurement stakeholders.

Evaluation of quantitative risk analysis techniques in selected large construction companies in Nigeria

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the adoption of quantitative risk analysis techniques (QRAT) on construction projects in Nigeria with a view to providing better understanding on the state of these techniques.

Benefits and Level of Using Retention Bond for Construction Projects in Nigeria

This research work assesses the extent of usage of retention bond in construction projects in Nigeria using project characteristics such as procurement methods, contractual methods, as well as project risks and problems as basis. Collected data were analyzed using statistical tools such as frequency distribution, mean item score, mean gap, Mann-Whitney U test and T-test so as to determine the mean values, dierences in mean and significance of the dierence. The findings from the study indicated that retention bond reduces the level of risks and problems associated with construction project performance. More so, the usage of retention bond in construction projects is significantly aected by selected procurement method as well as identified problems and risks of such project. Professional bodies are therefore encouraged to lay down relevant laws to encourage the use of retention bond in order to improve the quality of projects in the construction industry.

Evaluation of qualitative risk analysis techniques in selected large construction companies in Nigeria

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the adoption of qualitative risk analysis techniques (QRAT) on construction projects in Nigeria with the aim of providing better understanding on the state of these techniques.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey and an in‐depth interview were employed in gathering data for the study. The paper assessed the level of knowledge, awareness, utilization success and the factors affecting the utilization of qualitative risk analysis techniques. The primary data employed were obtained by using a multiple‐choice questionnaire administered to the selected large construction firms in Nigeria.Findings – The result of the study revealed a low level adoption of QRAT, thus preventing the Nigerian construction industry from taking full advantage of QRAT in the analysis of risks inherent in construction projects. Also checklists, flowchart and assumption analysis were the commonly used QRAT in the study area. Furthermore, inadequate training and record ke...

Assessment of success factors for joint venture construction projects in Nigeria

PurposeThe increasing pressure from clients and global construction trends have led the construction industry to seek better options for overcoming the emerging challenges and critical issues battling construction projects. The purpose of this paper is to assess the factors affecting the performance of partners in joint ventures construction projects in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were collected through the administration of questionnaire to partners and consultants who have engaged in joint venture construction project in partnership with the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation. The data obtained were analyzed using Mean Item Score, Wilcoxon‐Mann‐Whitney (U‐test) test, Kruskal‐Wallis (H‐test) test and factor analysis.FindingsThe study revealed that all the factors identified were significant to the performance of partners in joint venture construction with communication, compatibility of objectives and mutual understanding among partners ranked as the most important to the performance of partners in Joint Venture Projects. A KMO value of 0.743 was also derived indicating the suitability of the data for factor analysis.Practical implicationsThe research could be beneficial to potential investors for deciding the factors that contribute significantly to the performance of Partners in Joint Venture Construction Projects for inclusion in the drafting of Joint Venture Agreements. The five groupings from factor analysis and their relationship will also help in developing a framework for Joint Venture Construction Projects.Originality/valueThe extracted factors and values will help to identify prioritized factors which could be used as an assessment tool to evaluate the performance of partners and thus identifying areas for improvement.

Comparing levels of use of project plans and performance of traditional contract and design‐build construction projects in Nigeria

PurposeThe prominent role of traditional contract and design‐build methods in the procurement of projects and the importance of planning in the success of the projects prompt this study. The study evaluates the levels of use of project documents and their influence on the outcome of projects procured by the two methods. The purpose of this paper is to assist stakeholders in comparing the documents prepared and the performance of projects procured by traditional contract and design‐build methods.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a questionnaire survey approach to achieve its purpose. A field survey of 84 projects made up of 42 traditional contract projects and 42 design‐build projects selected by purposive sampling was conducted. Three categories of variables namely: procurement method, project planning and project outcome were used. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires and analysed to derive and compare the levels of use of selected project plans, levels of project inception, design, tendering, construction and overall planning in projects procured by traditional contract and design‐build methods using percentage, mean and t‐test.FindingsThe results reveal that the levels of project stage and overall planning in projects procured by the two methods investigated are the same. However, the levels of use of specific plans and project outcome in the two categories of projects are significantly different. The study considers the difference in the levels of use of project plans to be responsible for the lower delivery time and cost of projects procured by traditional contract method and higher quality standards in projects procured by design‐build method.Originality/valueThe paper has revealed the level of efforts put into the planning of projects procured by traditional contract and design‐build methods and their influence on the performance of the projects. The results will make project stakeholders aware of how to improve their efforts, thereby improving the outcome of the projects.

The impact of contractors' management capability on cost and time performance of construction projects in Nigeria

PurposeManagement capability is one of the major criteria for evaluating construction contractors during prequalification and tender evaluation This paper aims to investigate the impact of contractors' management capability as a prequalification criterion on cost and time performance of selected building projects.Design/methodology/approachPrequalification assessments of management capability of wining contractors as well as cost data relating to 77 completed building projects executed between 2004 and 2007 are obtained. The data obtained from a questionnaire and archival data are analyzed using one‐way analysis of variance and multiple regression.FindingsThe results reveal that contractors' management capability has significant impact on cost and time performance of building projects as evidenced by p‐values of 0.042 and 0.039, respectively.Practical implicationsThe research could be of significant benefit at the research implementation stage of public procurement practice especially in relation to the construction industry in Nigeria. Construction practitioners involved in prequalification and tender evaluation should continue to seek relevant information relating to management capability from the candidate contractors during prequalification and tender evaluation.Originality/valueModels capable of predicting the final cost and duration of building projects are eventually derived based on prequalification assessment of contractors on management capability, proposed contract duration and the initial contract figure. The goodness of fit of the models as defined by the value of R2 is found to be 96.2 percent and 90.01 percent for cost and time, respectively; thus signifying high predictive efficacy of the models.

Innovative Waste Management Through the Use of Waste Management Plans on Construction Projects in Nigeria

The complexity and dynamism of construction projects require innovative approaches to ensure stakeholders' satisfaction. Construction waste management is no doubt a sine qua non to sustainability and needs innovation to ensure waste minimization. The application of a waste management plan (WMP) in previous projects has shown that it can lead to waste minimization. A survey was therefore conducted using a convenience-sampling technique to explore the application and effects of a WMP on construction projects in Nigeria. The population of the study comprised construction professionals in construction companies in Lagos State, Nigeria. A questionnaire was created to gather information for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used for the analysis. The findings revealed that WMPs are applied ‘averagely’ in Nigerian construction projects: the effects of a WMP on materials, labour and time waste minimization are mostly average, whereas it is high on equipment waste minimization; the most important effect of a WMP is on materials waste. The majority of the construction companies consider the use of a WMP at the tender stage whereas only a few of them consider it at the pretender stage. The study recommends inter alia that practitioners should be cognizant of the use of WMPs to minimize all categories of waste, especially materials, on their projects.

A model for contractors’ selection in Nigeria

Construction projects in Nigeria are generally characterized by cost and time overrun, substandard work, disputes and abandonment; emanating from several factors of which the wrong choice of contractors is a key factor. This study evaluated the criteria adopted by clients and consultants in contractors’ selection in Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaire administered on clients and consultants within the Nigerian construction industry. Also prequalification/bid evaluation scores for eighty contractors were collected based on the criteria used in assessing them. The data collected were analysed with the aid of mean score and regression analysis. The result showed that past performance; contractors’ experience; workmanship quality; tender sum; and plant and equipment were the most important criteria for contractors’ prequalification/bid evaluation in Nigeria. A contractors’ selection model was eventually derived based on some of the identified factors. The goodness of fit of the model as defined by the value of r2 was found to be 99%. This therefore implies that only 1% is explained by other independent variables not included in the regression equation; hence the suitability of the model for contractors’ selection in Nigeria.

Time‐cost model for building projects in Nigeria

The concept of project duration is important in assessing the success or viability of a construction project. A time‐cost relationship for construction projects in Nigeria has been developed based on Bromilow's time‐cost model. Cost data on 87 completed building projects executed within the period 1991–2000 were obtained. The data were subjected to regression analyses using double log and later the piecewise model with breakpoint. For the Nigerian situation, the Bromilow's time‐cost model was found to be T = 63C0.262 with poor predictive abilities (R = 0.453, R2 = 0.205). An improved model using piecewise model with good predictive abilities (R = 0.875, R2 = 0.765) was found to be T = 118.563−0.401C (C ⩽ 408) or 603.427 + 0.610C (C>408). The model is shown to be useful in predicting construction project durations.

Evaluation and selection of construction projects in Nigeria

Investors in the Nigerian construction industry were surveyed in four major towns in southern Nigeria in order to collect data on the evaluation and selection criteria employed when investing in construction. Their responses were analysed based on type of developer, i.e. individuals, companies or government agencies. The net present value (NPV), discounted cash flow (DCF) and payback method were identified as the three most significant methods for evaluating construction projects. Of the developers surveyed, about 19% undertook risk analyses, whereas 81% allowed for risk by multiplying by a factor whose value varies. There was closer agreement between individual investors and companies on the priorities accorded to different factors when evaluating and selecting projects, than between government agencies and any of the other two. The availability of capital was considered of utmost importance by all the investors surveyed.

Reasons for overrun in public sector construction projects in Nigeria

Construction activity requires major investment outlays in most developing countries, yet most construction projects in these countries are characterized by overruns in cost and time. In an attempt to identify the reasons for such overruns, an extensive survey was carried out in a typical developing country, Nigeria. An interim report is presented on the survey, suggesting that the major underlying problems are the lack of prompt payment by agencies to contractors and fluctuations in material, labour and plant costs.

Organisation and management of construction projects in Nigeria

The construction boom in Nigeria has had a great influence on the state and structure of its construction industry. Although the industry has expanded very rapidly in the last few years, there is still urgent need for improvement in its organisation and management standards. The indigenous contractors are being encouraged by the Government but there are still problems. It is hoped that the training of more Nigerians and the availability of plants and materials will assist in bringing about higher efficiency in the construction industry. This paper examines some of these problems and suggests means of improving the m management and organisation of projects in the Nigerian construction industry.