CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Abandoned projects and construction failure
including construction projects 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 construction projects 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 construction
projects and construction industry plays a very dominant role in the economy of
any nation. A healthy economy usually experience an increase in construction
projects 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
suchdevelopment project within a time frame of the contract agreement and with
no intention of returning back to thedevelopment (Spelman, 1993). Similarly,
O’Flaherty (1993) while reflecting on property development projects suggest
thatit 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
toascertain 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 reasonrather cut across several reasons (Ayodele and
Alabi, 2011), and as well as creating a total dwindling effects on the valuesof
developed properties located close and within the vicinity. The expected
prominence of any earmarked developmentprojects 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 beginningand ending date (Gardner,
2005). The accomplishment of such purposes should be realized at all times
otherwise needlessof 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
projectsabandonment 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 thatNigerian 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 propertiesand its values and the economy cannot be
overemphasized since some of the development projects provide the basicservices
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?