CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FAILURE IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF ENUGU

BY: EZEAMIGI ADULPHUS T REG. NO. 2006/142202 SUPERVISOR: ENGR J. C. EZEOKONKWO

ABSTRACT
This research work determined the causes and effects of construction projects failure in Nigeria with respect to Enugu State of Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were distributed to Civil Engineers, Builders, and Contractors that have practiced in Enugu State Nigeria for at least ten years. The twenty-four well completed questionnaires formed the basis of the study and were analyzed in percentage.

The result from the study showed the causes of project failure and abandonment as inadequate project planning; inadequate fund, bankruptcy of Contractor, incompetent project manager, wrong estimate, inadequate cost control, faulty design and delayed payment. Effects of project failure from the study are disappointment of the populace/users, low living standard, wastage of resources, reduction in employment opportunities etc.

AIM
The aim of this research is to determine the
factors that cause construction project failure in Enugu State of Nigeria.

SCOPE
This research is to interact with contractors, engineers and builders that have been in practise on the causes of project failures. It does not involve laboratory testing of any construction material. It is to determine the management problems that lead to construction project failures.

METHODOLOGY
The research was carried-out using structured questionnaires and audio-visual interviews of practicing engineers. The sample was carried-out at Enugu state water corporation, Enugu state Ministry of Works, construction companies and private practicing engineers in Enugu. A video recording of a recently failed building was made in support of the research. There were a total of thirty (30) questionnaires. There were eighty percent (80%) response which represent a total of twenty-four questionnaires, while twenty percent (20%) were not returned which represent a total of six questionnaires.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The term project failure triggers various dimensions of understanding to scholars. To some people, project failure (Peter Storm) is defined as: abortion of a project or completion of a project in a state where (a) the schedule and the budget have been seriously overrun, (b) the value of the project has decreased significantly between start and completion.

Coley consulting, a web-based consultancy firm published that projects fail when they fail to achieve the following criteria for success: Delivery on schedule. The system works as required.

Here are some of the most important reasons for failure as outlined by O. O. Ugwu Lack of teamwork among stakeholders Being untruthful Corrupt practices Assigning people to inappropriate tasks Negligence on standards and guidelines Lack of executive management support Poor estimating and inaccurate scheduling Wrong use of tools and techniques Working excessive overtime Encouraging substandard performance

RESULT
The result shows that the following factors contribute to project failure in Enugu state: Poor construction materials Improper supervision Unethical and non-standard practices Design errors Poor project scheduling Poor payment of engineering personnel Poor budgeting/feasibility studies Political/Client interference to construction project Poor performance of regulatory bodies like COREN, SON, NSE etc.

RECOMMENDATION
To drastically reduce these negative effects; clients should undertake adequate project planning, posses enough fund for the project, engage contractor that have strong financial stand for their project. Architects should once and for all at inception produce detailed design and the cost plan and cost control from inception to completion of project. Client should form the habit of making payment to contractors promptly as at when due. The regulatory bodies like COREN and NSE should ensure that the engineering personnel are independent, well educated and well paid and should also make strong efforts to punish offenders, eradicate quacks and inferior construction materials. When theres change of administration, previously commenced project should not be abandoned.

VIDEO

The video contains interviews and a recent building collapse in Enugu Nigeria. The building failed on 5th June 2011 due to nonstandard and unethical practices

THANK YOU

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