Building projects delivery challenges on remote sites in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Most building projects sited on remote sites in Nigeria fail due to less attention given to logistics. Hence, this paper identifies and assesses challenges faced by such projects, as well as strategies for curbing them. Literature review, unstructured interview, and personal observation were employed to design a structured questionnire for the study. A total of 117 questionnaires were administered to building procurement professionals through disproportionate stratified random sampling technique in northern Nigeria. Subsequently, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data obtained. Six challenges and ten strategies were identified. The challenges were assessed to be severe; with resource scarcity, predetermined designs, and poor accessibility found to be extremely severe. While maintaining retainer-ship with suppliers, outsourcing work force, integrating local community in works, stacking materials before starting works, and subletting labour were ranked highly effective strategies for curbing the challenges. The study recommends: appropriate attention on project site logistics; government provision of socio-economic infrastructures in rural areas; and the adoption of effective curbing strategies where challenges seem inevitable.