Causes, effects and remedies of errors in Nigerian construction documents

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to determine the causes, effects and remedies of the errors in Nigerian construction documents. A structured questionnaire was administered on ninety consultants (Builders, architects, engineers and quantity surveyors) obtained from regulatory bodies of each profession. Forty four questionnaires were returned and this gives a response rate of 49%. The findings of the research show that clients are the major stakeholders responsible for the generation of errors in Nigerian construction documents. The causes of the errors are lack of adequate documentation, poor communication, negligence and changes to specifications among others and the effects on construction projects include project abandonment, delays, rework, dissatisfaction by project owners and lack of confidence in project consultants. The suggested solutions include provision of comprehensive information, good communication among project teams, effective and efficient project management, constructability, design review management and adequate financial provision. The study recommends that clients should allow adequate time for the preparation of construction documents and adopt appropriate procurement method. The designers were advised to engage in partnering while preparing construction documents.