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Reuben Okereke

Imo State University, Quantity surveying, Faculty Member

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A multi talented and versatile scholar and professional with flair for academic and professional excellence. A primus inter pares in contemporary academic/professional research and publications in the field of Quantity Surveying, Construction Contracts and Project Management with both industry and teaching experience spanning over three decades.

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Saipol Bari Abd Karim

University of Malaya, Malaysia

Emmanuel Adinyira

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

PROFESSOR Sr Ts DR ZULHABRI ISMAIL

Universiti Teknologi Mara

Kansas State University

Dominik Maschek

Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie

Mahmoud SAYED AHMED

Toronto Metropolitan University

National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST)

CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Spanish National Research Council)

Joseph Ofori-Kuragu

Anglia Ruskin University

Luis Caballero Zoreda

CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Spanish National Research Council)

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Papers by Reuben Okereke

The Effect of Capital Project Planning on Construction Project Delivery in Nigeria

British journal of environmental sciences, Apr 14, 2023

The purpose of this article is to investigate the impact of capital project planning on project d... more

Assessment of critical claims and their impacts on the construction industry of Nigeria

ITEGAM- Journal of Engineering and Technology for Industrial Applications (ITEGAM-JETIA)

Impact of Traditional Procurement System on Construction Project Delivery

Journal of Project Management Practice

Poor project performance issues have been a problem in the construction industry. A large number ... more Poor project performance issues have been a problem in the construction industry. A large number of projects have failed to meet their goal as a result of the choice of procurement adopted. The traditional method is the commonly used procurement method in the construction industries of the world, and its sequential and linear nature has serious implications on project time, cost and quality baseline performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the traditional procurement system on construction project delivery. The specific objectives of this study were; to assess the influence of the traditional procurement system on construction project parameters, and to determine the factors responsible for the poor bottom lines of traditionally procure construction projects. This study was achieved using a structured questionnaire administered to construction experts using a purposive sampling method. With a reliability index of over 0.800, the data gathered were analys...

Assessment of the major contractors’ selection criteria and their impacts in civil engineering construction projects

Journal of Engineering and Technology for Industrial Applications, 2022

Potential Benefits of Implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Nigerian Construction Industry

Journal of Technology Management and Business

Building Information Modelling (BIM)is an innovative technology that has transformed the way cons... more Building Information Modelling (BIM)is an innovative technology that has transformed the way construction projects are delivered. It has helped to overcome the problems of cost and time overruns, poor quality, safety issues, dissatisfaction, and lossof profit, among others; associated with the traditional method of project delivery. Despite the enormous benefits of BIM, its adoption and implementation among construction companiesin the construction industry of developing nations remained low. In order to drive and influence the wider implementation of BIM, this study assessed the perceived potential benefits of BIM in the Nigerian construction industry. The study adopted a survey approach in which well-structured questionnaires were used to gather data from construction professionals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, using snowball sampling techniques. With 132 responses, the data gathered were analysed using frequencies, percentile, relative importance index (RII) and Kruskal-Wallis test....

The Role of Construction Cost Management Practices on Construction Organisations’ Strategic Performance

Journal of Project Management Practice

Cost management practices have remained a vital aspect of project management functions. Despite t... more Cost management practices have remained a vital aspect of project management functions. Despite the efforts of project management, construction projects are still being delivered above budget, with schedule overrun, poor quality and amongst other problems. Poor cost management approaches have been blamed for these problems. Effective cost management improves project performance and the strategic performance of construction organisations. This study aims to assess the role of cost management practice on construction firms' strategic performance in Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to determine the benefits of cost management of the project on the competitive position of construction firms, and the factors influencing cost management strategies of construction firms. This study adopted a well-structured questionnaire administered to construction professionals via electronic means and using snowball sampling technique in the six states of the south-south geopolitical zone of...

Potential Benefits of Implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Nigerian Construction Industry

Globally, regardless of the level of development of a nation, the influence of the construction s... more Globally, regardless of the level of development of a nation, the influence of the construction sector is robust and well-acknowledged on the growth and development of economies of nations. Onyeagam et al. (2019) described the construction sector as one of the dominant sectors that stimulate the provision of jobs and impact the activities of other sectors of the economy. Eze et al. (2019) see the construction industry as a sector that brings about economic growth, infrastructure acceleration, the apparent impact being a contribution to the GPD of nations, the creation of jobs, increased companies' revenue generation, housing and other infrastructure provisions. For Onyejeakor et al (2020), the construction sector is the mainstay and prime mover of economies of nations. Notwithstanding these vita and critical roles of the construction sector, construction projects are characterised by schedule overruns, budget overruns, poor quality, safety issues, claims and disputes and dissatisfaction of contract parties. Thus, projects poorly performed and delivered.

THE ENVIRONGUARD JOURNAL OF SCHOOL OF EN

RECON 5 2020 Construction Project Delivery In A Deregulated Economy Pg 668

Assessment of Nigerian Renewable Energy Potentials and Energy Poverty: Challenges and Prospects 1

The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and t... more The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and this raises the issues of a sustainable economic development and growth. Therefore, sustainable energy has become one of the most promising means of handling the challenges of energy demand problems of many consumers worldwide. However, solar energy is a clean energy source and thus power generation through this energy source imposes little or no environmental hazards. Unlike most conventional source of power generation and even some renewables like wind energy technologies, PV technologies generate no noise though the inverter systems could produce a system humming noise which is normally absorbed by the domestic noise background. The research aim is to assess the problems and prospects of achieving sustainable energy in Nigeria through photo voltaic (PV) technology. Descriptive and correlation research design was used in this research work. The population of the study comprises of selected practitioners in top five (5) solar firms in Nigeria, such as Ecozar Technologies, Leks Environmental Ltd Lagos, Wavetra Energy Ltd Lagos, Solar Force Nigeria PLC Abuja, Astrum Energy Solutions Enugu. A sample of 136 respondents was randomly drawn from the population of the study using a purposive sampling procedure. Data was obtained through questionnaire survey. Oral interview was also used to get more information from the respondents. Questionnaires were distributed to the relevant staff in accordance with the sample size. The data analysis was carried out using multiple regression and correlation methods. The test was conducted at 0.05 level of significance. A computer software based multiple regression analysis called statistical program for social science (SPSS) version 21 was used in the data analysis. The study reveals that technical challenges and economic and financial challenges are the most striking barriers to sustainable energy in Nigeria. The study recommends that Nigerian Government should invest in the development of Nigerian made PV panels which will contribute to the Nations GDP and GNI. These panels will also be exported and foreign exchange will flow into Nigeria's economy.

Evaluation of Socio-Political factors responsible for the energy poverty in Sub-Sahara Africa 1

Poverty is the most fundamental reality of developing countries and the energy consumption patter... more Poverty is the most fundamental reality of developing countries and the energy consumption patterns of poor people tend to add to their misery and aggravate their poverty. A direct improvement in energy services would allow the poor to enjoy both short-term and long-term advances in living standards. Required are energy strategies based on increasing the use of energy carriers other than biomass, or on using biomass in modern ways. Poverty alleviation and development depend on universal access to energy services that are affordable, reliable, and of good quality. For many years now, Nigeria as one of the Sub Saharan Countries has been facing extreme electricity shortage. This deficiency is multi-faceted, with causes that are financial, structural, and sociopolitical, none of which are mutually exclusive. For the purposes of this paper, after searching through copious amounts of literature, I was able to flesh out most of the financial and structural issues. With only this perspective, we naively attempted to compare cost projections for rural electrification, including both grid extension and decentralized methods. The projected costs are high but not so prohibitive as the current electrification statistics would suggest. We realized that there must be some aspect of the problem that cannot be reflected through numbers and official policies. The goal of this paper is not to solve the energy crisis of Sub Saharan Africa, but rather to introduce the depth and complexity of the issues involved. In the appendix, we describe various strategies that could be used to address the solution. The energy situation in Nigeria is quite different from that of the United States and other more developed countries. Yet alleviation of the global energy crisis will require a coordinated effort on the part of many nations. Thus, it is important to have a general understanding of the nature of problems in areas of the world less familiar to westerners.

Journal of Engineering and Technology for Industrial Applications

In the growing Sustainable construction business, Building Information Modelling (BIM) represents... more In the growing Sustainable construction business, Building Information Modelling (BIM) represents a new paradigm. This new paradigm shift needs to be embraced by quantity surveyors to remail globally competitive. The construction industry has seen a many advances, including ecosystems, construction software, building information modeling (BIM) and augmented reality among others. As a result of these developments and evolutions, new tools, procedures, and software have been developed to help construction professionals be more productive. For potential integration into the life cycle of construction projects, BIM has advantage, which will enable it to become a reference point for construction projects and, as a result, it will be a vital instrument in project procurement in the future. As a result, major functions of Quantity Surveyors (QS) in BIM-based construction procurement would be significantly different from what they are now. There are concerns that BIM adoption could jeopardize the profession of Quantity Surveying. Understanding the possible expansions of QS positions in BIM-based project delivery is essential. Therefore, this study submits the review of role and responsibility of Quantity Surveyors in the adoption of BIM in Nigeria with a few to outlining the derivate benefits of its adoption.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DELIVERY IN A DEREGULATED ECONOMY

Construction projects located in Nigeria suffer from many problems and complex issues and this ul... more Construction projects located in Nigeria suffer from many problems and complex issues and this ultimately impact on the country's economic development. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to assess the Role of Quality Surveyor in Construction Project Delivery in a Deregulated Economy. The specific objectives of the study are to examine the effect of deregulating of materials specification as stated in bill of quantities (BOQ) on building construction project delivery in Nigeria. Literature review was carry out in the study. The methodology adopts was focused group discussion (FGDs) method. The study explores both primary and secondary sources of data collection. Primary data were collected mainly through in-depth interview and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs). The populations of the study involve 20 interviewed respondents and 5 FGDs participants. The interview was carry out on contractors and foremen on construction site while the FGDs were conducted in two sessions. Each session featured five (5) participants in an intensive deliberation on the subjects of study, with the researcher providing the lead. The method of analysis employed was qualitative descriptive. The qualitative element enables the researcher to utilized focus group discussion analysis with involved arguments points. The researcher constructed a conceptual model map, with its target Group Argument Discussion (GAD). The model representing the effect of quantity surveyor (QS) deregulated on material specification as showed in bill of quantities contract document on time and cost. The argument discussion revealed that if the government put their house in order by implementing the policies on regulating construction project, it will save the country from financially loss resulting from delay in project delivery and high rate of collapse building. It concluded that the current policy and regulation in the country is only on paper. Therefore, it recommends that the Federal Government of Nigeria should see to the effective adherence to the regulation so as to improve efficiency of construction project delivery.

Arbitration as an Alternative to Litigation in Construction Projects

by Reuben Okereke and Henry Ajaelu

International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology, 2020

In many countries of the world, arbitration has been used as an alternate disagreement resolution... more In many countries of the world, arbitration has been used as an alternate disagreement resolution technique, which remains a form of dispute settlement process outside a courtroom. Disagreements and conflicts in the construction industry have been viewed as disagreeable events in the implementation of projects by numerous researchers and these harm costs, performance, and complete objectives. Such conflicts have in the past been settled by litigation and lawsuits in which commercial ties were ultimately destroyed. The study employed four research objectives and research questions. Data used for the study existed from secondary and primary sources. Secondary records were assembled from related works on preceding studies although primary data were collected from fact-finding. The sample size is 100 respondents made up of staff from the Federal Ministry of Works and the state ministry of works in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Four establishments of higher learning in Imo State were also covered. A list of contractors was assimilated from the federation of building and civil engineering contractors Imo State branch. The study exposed that arbitration has been established to be worthwhile and less time overwhelming. Furthermore, usage of arbitration is additional facilitated by the inclusion of an arbitration clause in most construction contracts which usually states that all disputes arising in the contract shall be settled by arbitration. The study concludes that the use of arbitration in dispute resolution in construction contracts not only minimizes cost and time but also facilitates cordial relationships among the parties after the dispute and this minimizes the incidence of project failure and abandonment in the construction industry. It recommended that in addition to proper education on the use of arbitration, there should be adequate enlightenment and awareness creation on the importance and use of arbitration in the building industry, especially in the informal sector.

COST CONTROL OF ENGINEERING SERVICES IN BUILDING AND HOUSING PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

Project cost controls in the Nigerian construction sector have always been under studied. For eve... more Project cost controls in the Nigerian construction sector have always been under studied. For every project to be successfully executed, its cost must have been analyzed and the cost from start to finish noted so as to prevent unnecessary contingency spendings which may hamper the complete execution of the project. Thus this prompted this study on the very aim of ascertaining cost control mechanisms and its impact on engineering services in building and housing project delivery in Nigeria. To achieve the above, the study employed four specific objectives and four research questions. The study is of a quantitative data conducted using descriptive statistical techniques. Additionally, detailed accounts of participant responses during the qualitative interviews were reported and tabulated under appropriate sections. The results of statistical analysis were interpreted: inferences were drawn from the results and discussed thoroughly to bring the research conclusions into focus. Quantitative data collection for this study was conducted through the use of a questionnaire survey. A total of two hundred and twenty-five (225) questionnaires were administered to construction stakeholders (architects, site engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors, contractors, building materials suppliers, site managers and government workers) in the Owerri Imo State of Nigeria. The study however concluded that increase in the building costs has been narrowed down to economic instability of this country. There exist array of factors that obstruct successful procurement of building construction projects. Several of these obstructions have been well researched upon and solutions proffered to improve projects procurement. One aspect of the recommendations that has received less than deserved attention is the proactive way of managing cost, believed will offer the deserved scientific cost management of building construction projects. Finally the study recommends that

FACTORS FOR PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATION

Preliminary cost estimating is an assessment of the expected cost of any construction project. Th... more Preliminary cost estimating is an assessment of the expected cost of any construction project. The accuracy of such estimate has a serious effect on the expected profit of the construction contractor. Hence, the amount envisaged in building projects in the Nigerian construction industry to finish a construction project is important. They are known to have adverse effect on the performance of building projects; therefore the aim of this study is to assess the factors for preliminary cost estimation of building projects in the Nigerian construction industry. To achieve the objectives of the study, the purpose and importance of cost estimation in the Nigerian construction industry and the factors that affects preliminary cost estimates of building projects were identified from the literature review and presented in the well-structured questionnaire for respondents to evaluate. Seventy-three successful completed questionnaires were analyzed. Twelve factors were identified that have severity greater than or equal to 0.85 of the importance index. The study reveals that the major factor that affects preliminary cost estimate is economic stability and therefore recommends that when preparing cost estimates for any future project, the economic stability and project location should be taken into consideration and should be embraced in the Nigerian construction industry.

Assessment of Nigerian Renewable Energy Potentials and Energy Poverty: Challenges and Prospects 1

The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and t... more The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and this raises the issues of a sustainable economic development and growth. Therefore, sustainable energy has become one of the most promising means of handling the challenges of energy demand problems of many consumers worldwide. However, solar energy is a clean energy source and thus power generation through this energy source imposes little or no environmental hazards. Unlike most conventional source of power generation and even some renewables like wind energy technologies, PV technologies generate no noise though the inverter systems could produce a system humming noise which is normally absorbed by the domestic noise background. The research aim is to assess the problems and prospects of achieving sustainable energy in Nigeria through photo voltaic (PV) technology. Descriptive and correlation research design was used in this research work. The population of the study comprises of selected practitioners in top five (5) solar firms in Nigeria, such as Ecozar Technologies, Leks Environmental Ltd Lagos, Wavetra Energy Ltd Lagos, Solar Force Nigeria PLC Abuja, Astrum Energy Solutions Enugu. A sample of 136 respondents was randomly drawn from the population of the study using a purposive sampling procedure. Data was obtained through questionnaire survey. Oral interview was also used to get more information from the respondents. Questionnaires were distributed to the relevant staff in accordance with the sample size. The data analysis was carried out using multiple regression and correlation methods. The test was conducted at 0.05 level of significance. A computer software based multiple regression analysis called statistical program for social science (SPSS) version 21 was used in the data analysis. The study reveals that technical challenges and economic and financial challenges are the most striking barriers to sustainable energy in Nigeria. The study recommends that Nigerian Government should invest in the development of Nigerian made PV panels which will contribute to the Nations GDP and GNI. These panels will also be exported and foreign exchange will flow into Nigeria's economy.

GSJ Variation in Building Construction Industry the Nigerian Perspective

A variation (sometimes referred to as a variation order or change order) is a change to the scope... more A variation (sometimes referred to as a variation order or change order) is a change to the scope of operation in a building contract in the form of an extension, substitution or omission from the original scope of works. The construction industry in the world and particularly in Nigeria, where construction projects suffer from variation orders, has been supported for a long time by changing orders. Such targets are usually not achieved in building projects, which hinder customer satisfaction according to Fatoye (2012). The aim of this research is to ascertain variation orders and it causes in building construction industry from Nigerian perspective, to achieve the aim of this research many objectives exists, these objectives can be summarized as (1) to investigate the factors causing variation order from the literature, (2) to extract real causes of variation order in building industry in Nigeria through literature content analysis of Nigerian origin. This study is based on a content analysis carried out on 8 major studies of Nigerian background in the subject matter. The justification for the 8 is because they represent core expectation of this study which borders on Nigerian perspective. The contents were analyzed using a benchmark of 4 to arrive at decision. This decision rule is based on the obvious that the mean of 8 is 4 which is 8/2 =4. Since we have 8 works, any factor or item that is captured by four (4) of the 8 major studies will adjudged significant, any factor below four is not significant. The study observed that out of the 12 identified owner related causes or factors of variation order from the 8 major studies of Nigerian perspective, five (5) are the core owner related causes of variation order in Nigerian building industry. They are namely in their order of significance: change of plans or scope by owner, change of schedule by owner, owner's financial problems, inadequate project objectives and replacement of materials or resources respectively.

Achieving Sustainable Energy in Nigeria Through Photovoltaic (PV) Technology ;Problems and Prospects

The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and t... more The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and this raises the issues of a sustainable economic development and growth. Therefore, sustainable energy has become one of the most promising means of handling the challenges of energy demand problems of many consumers worldwide. However, solar energy is a clean energy source and thus power generation through this energy source imposes little or no environmental hazards. The research aim is to assess the problems and prospects of achieving sustainable energy in Nigeria through photo voltaic (PV) technology. Descriptive and correlative design was used in this research work. The sample population of the study was delimited to and comprises of selected practitioners in top five (5) solar firms in Nigeria, 136 respondents was randomly drawn from the various population of the study using a purposive sampling procedure. Data was obtained through the instrument of questionnaire. Oral interview was also used to get more information from the respondents. The data analysis techniques used for the test of hypothesis are multiple regression and correlation method using (SPSS) version 21. The study concludes that technical challenges, economic and financial challenges are the most striking barriers. The study recommends that Nigerian Government should invest in the development of Nigerian made PV panels which will contribute to the Nations GDP and GNI. This will be the natural consequence since these panels will be exported and foreign exchange will flow into Nigeria's economy.

EXTENSION OF TIME EoT CLAIMS SUBSTANTIAT

In complex and multi-stakeholder construction projects, delays and disruption are commonplace. De... more In complex and multi-stakeholder construction projects, delays and disruption are commonplace. Delays trigger the request for Extension of time (EoT) to enable adequate time for the project to be completed. Substantiating the need for EoT is a difficult task and requires a lot of effort. The administration of EoT claims come with a lot of issues to the clients and the contractors. The purpose of this study is to assess the factors for substantiating Extension of time (EoT) claims and the common issues associated with (EoT) in complex-Multi Stakeholders' Building Construction contracts. This study adopted a wellstructured questionnaire administered on construction professionals in consulting and contracting organisations, via electronic means and using snowball sampling techniques in Abuja and Lagos state, Nigeria. With a response rate of 39.60% and an instrument reliability index of above 0.70, the gathered data were analysed using appropriate descriptive analytical tools. It was found that the major documents and records that have the level of importance for substantiating claims for extension of time are; time impact analysis showing the potential impact of the changes before carrying out the changes, change of work notices, claim register, programme updates, minutes of the daily, weekly, and meetings, and daily progress reports. The major disputed issues associated with claims for extension of time in construction contracts are concurrent delay, The absence of notice of delay by the contractor as required by the contract, eligibility of time extension claim, inadequate effort in mitigating the delay and poor demonstration of the impact of the delay event to the project schedule. Regular training and continuous professional development is required to enhance the skills and expertise of project administrators/managers for effective claim administration and management.

The Effect of Capital Project Planning on Construction Project Delivery in Nigeria

British journal of environmental sciences, Apr 14, 2023

The purpose of this article is to investigate the impact of capital project planning on project d... more

Assessment of critical claims and their impacts on the construction industry of Nigeria

ITEGAM- Journal of Engineering and Technology for Industrial Applications (ITEGAM-JETIA)

Impact of Traditional Procurement System on Construction Project Delivery

Journal of Project Management Practice

Poor project performance issues have been a problem in the construction industry. A large number ... more Poor project performance issues have been a problem in the construction industry. A large number of projects have failed to meet their goal as a result of the choice of procurement adopted. The traditional method is the commonly used procurement method in the construction industries of the world, and its sequential and linear nature has serious implications on project time, cost and quality baseline performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the traditional procurement system on construction project delivery. The specific objectives of this study were; to assess the influence of the traditional procurement system on construction project parameters, and to determine the factors responsible for the poor bottom lines of traditionally procure construction projects. This study was achieved using a structured questionnaire administered to construction experts using a purposive sampling method. With a reliability index of over 0.800, the data gathered were analys...

Assessment of the major contractors’ selection criteria and their impacts in civil engineering construction projects

Journal of Engineering and Technology for Industrial Applications, 2022

Potential Benefits of Implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Nigerian Construction Industry

Journal of Technology Management and Business

Building Information Modelling (BIM)is an innovative technology that has transformed the way cons... more Building Information Modelling (BIM)is an innovative technology that has transformed the way construction projects are delivered. It has helped to overcome the problems of cost and time overruns, poor quality, safety issues, dissatisfaction, and lossof profit, among others; associated with the traditional method of project delivery. Despite the enormous benefits of BIM, its adoption and implementation among construction companiesin the construction industry of developing nations remained low. In order to drive and influence the wider implementation of BIM, this study assessed the perceived potential benefits of BIM in the Nigerian construction industry. The study adopted a survey approach in which well-structured questionnaires were used to gather data from construction professionals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, using snowball sampling techniques. With 132 responses, the data gathered were analysed using frequencies, percentile, relative importance index (RII) and Kruskal-Wallis test....

The Role of Construction Cost Management Practices on Construction Organisations’ Strategic Performance

Journal of Project Management Practice

Cost management practices have remained a vital aspect of project management functions. Despite t... more Cost management practices have remained a vital aspect of project management functions. Despite the efforts of project management, construction projects are still being delivered above budget, with schedule overrun, poor quality and amongst other problems. Poor cost management approaches have been blamed for these problems. Effective cost management improves project performance and the strategic performance of construction organisations. This study aims to assess the role of cost management practice on construction firms' strategic performance in Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to determine the benefits of cost management of the project on the competitive position of construction firms, and the factors influencing cost management strategies of construction firms. This study adopted a well-structured questionnaire administered to construction professionals via electronic means and using snowball sampling technique in the six states of the south-south geopolitical zone of...

Potential Benefits of Implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Nigerian Construction Industry

Globally, regardless of the level of development of a nation, the influence of the construction s... more Globally, regardless of the level of development of a nation, the influence of the construction sector is robust and well-acknowledged on the growth and development of economies of nations. Onyeagam et al. (2019) described the construction sector as one of the dominant sectors that stimulate the provision of jobs and impact the activities of other sectors of the economy. Eze et al. (2019) see the construction industry as a sector that brings about economic growth, infrastructure acceleration, the apparent impact being a contribution to the GPD of nations, the creation of jobs, increased companies' revenue generation, housing and other infrastructure provisions. For Onyejeakor et al (2020), the construction sector is the mainstay and prime mover of economies of nations. Notwithstanding these vita and critical roles of the construction sector, construction projects are characterised by schedule overruns, budget overruns, poor quality, safety issues, claims and disputes and dissatisfaction of contract parties. Thus, projects poorly performed and delivered.

THE ENVIRONGUARD JOURNAL OF SCHOOL OF EN

RECON 5 2020 Construction Project Delivery In A Deregulated Economy Pg 668

Assessment of Nigerian Renewable Energy Potentials and Energy Poverty: Challenges and Prospects 1

The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and t... more The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and this raises the issues of a sustainable economic development and growth. Therefore, sustainable energy has become one of the most promising means of handling the challenges of energy demand problems of many consumers worldwide. However, solar energy is a clean energy source and thus power generation through this energy source imposes little or no environmental hazards. Unlike most conventional source of power generation and even some renewables like wind energy technologies, PV technologies generate no noise though the inverter systems could produce a system humming noise which is normally absorbed by the domestic noise background. The research aim is to assess the problems and prospects of achieving sustainable energy in Nigeria through photo voltaic (PV) technology. Descriptive and correlation research design was used in this research work. The population of the study comprises of selected practitioners in top five (5) solar firms in Nigeria, such as Ecozar Technologies, Leks Environmental Ltd Lagos, Wavetra Energy Ltd Lagos, Solar Force Nigeria PLC Abuja, Astrum Energy Solutions Enugu. A sample of 136 respondents was randomly drawn from the population of the study using a purposive sampling procedure. Data was obtained through questionnaire survey. Oral interview was also used to get more information from the respondents. Questionnaires were distributed to the relevant staff in accordance with the sample size. The data analysis was carried out using multiple regression and correlation methods. The test was conducted at 0.05 level of significance. A computer software based multiple regression analysis called statistical program for social science (SPSS) version 21 was used in the data analysis. The study reveals that technical challenges and economic and financial challenges are the most striking barriers to sustainable energy in Nigeria. The study recommends that Nigerian Government should invest in the development of Nigerian made PV panels which will contribute to the Nations GDP and GNI. These panels will also be exported and foreign exchange will flow into Nigeria's economy.

Evaluation of Socio-Political factors responsible for the energy poverty in Sub-Sahara Africa 1

Poverty is the most fundamental reality of developing countries and the energy consumption patter... more Poverty is the most fundamental reality of developing countries and the energy consumption patterns of poor people tend to add to their misery and aggravate their poverty. A direct improvement in energy services would allow the poor to enjoy both short-term and long-term advances in living standards. Required are energy strategies based on increasing the use of energy carriers other than biomass, or on using biomass in modern ways. Poverty alleviation and development depend on universal access to energy services that are affordable, reliable, and of good quality. For many years now, Nigeria as one of the Sub Saharan Countries has been facing extreme electricity shortage. This deficiency is multi-faceted, with causes that are financial, structural, and sociopolitical, none of which are mutually exclusive. For the purposes of this paper, after searching through copious amounts of literature, I was able to flesh out most of the financial and structural issues. With only this perspective, we naively attempted to compare cost projections for rural electrification, including both grid extension and decentralized methods. The projected costs are high but not so prohibitive as the current electrification statistics would suggest. We realized that there must be some aspect of the problem that cannot be reflected through numbers and official policies. The goal of this paper is not to solve the energy crisis of Sub Saharan Africa, but rather to introduce the depth and complexity of the issues involved. In the appendix, we describe various strategies that could be used to address the solution. The energy situation in Nigeria is quite different from that of the United States and other more developed countries. Yet alleviation of the global energy crisis will require a coordinated effort on the part of many nations. Thus, it is important to have a general understanding of the nature of problems in areas of the world less familiar to westerners.

Journal of Engineering and Technology for Industrial Applications

In the growing Sustainable construction business, Building Information Modelling (BIM) represents... more In the growing Sustainable construction business, Building Information Modelling (BIM) represents a new paradigm. This new paradigm shift needs to be embraced by quantity surveyors to remail globally competitive. The construction industry has seen a many advances, including ecosystems, construction software, building information modeling (BIM) and augmented reality among others. As a result of these developments and evolutions, new tools, procedures, and software have been developed to help construction professionals be more productive. For potential integration into the life cycle of construction projects, BIM has advantage, which will enable it to become a reference point for construction projects and, as a result, it will be a vital instrument in project procurement in the future. As a result, major functions of Quantity Surveyors (QS) in BIM-based construction procurement would be significantly different from what they are now. There are concerns that BIM adoption could jeopardize the profession of Quantity Surveying. Understanding the possible expansions of QS positions in BIM-based project delivery is essential. Therefore, this study submits the review of role and responsibility of Quantity Surveyors in the adoption of BIM in Nigeria with a few to outlining the derivate benefits of its adoption.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DELIVERY IN A DEREGULATED ECONOMY

Construction projects located in Nigeria suffer from many problems and complex issues and this ul... more Construction projects located in Nigeria suffer from many problems and complex issues and this ultimately impact on the country's economic development. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to assess the Role of Quality Surveyor in Construction Project Delivery in a Deregulated Economy. The specific objectives of the study are to examine the effect of deregulating of materials specification as stated in bill of quantities (BOQ) on building construction project delivery in Nigeria. Literature review was carry out in the study. The methodology adopts was focused group discussion (FGDs) method. The study explores both primary and secondary sources of data collection. Primary data were collected mainly through in-depth interview and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs). The populations of the study involve 20 interviewed respondents and 5 FGDs participants. The interview was carry out on contractors and foremen on construction site while the FGDs were conducted in two sessions. Each session featured five (5) participants in an intensive deliberation on the subjects of study, with the researcher providing the lead. The method of analysis employed was qualitative descriptive. The qualitative element enables the researcher to utilized focus group discussion analysis with involved arguments points. The researcher constructed a conceptual model map, with its target Group Argument Discussion (GAD). The model representing the effect of quantity surveyor (QS) deregulated on material specification as showed in bill of quantities contract document on time and cost. The argument discussion revealed that if the government put their house in order by implementing the policies on regulating construction project, it will save the country from financially loss resulting from delay in project delivery and high rate of collapse building. It concluded that the current policy and regulation in the country is only on paper. Therefore, it recommends that the Federal Government of Nigeria should see to the effective adherence to the regulation so as to improve efficiency of construction project delivery.

Arbitration as an Alternative to Litigation in Construction Projects

by Reuben Okereke and Henry Ajaelu

International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology, 2020

In many countries of the world, arbitration has been used as an alternate disagreement resolution... more In many countries of the world, arbitration has been used as an alternate disagreement resolution technique, which remains a form of dispute settlement process outside a courtroom. Disagreements and conflicts in the construction industry have been viewed as disagreeable events in the implementation of projects by numerous researchers and these harm costs, performance, and complete objectives. Such conflicts have in the past been settled by litigation and lawsuits in which commercial ties were ultimately destroyed. The study employed four research objectives and research questions. Data used for the study existed from secondary and primary sources. Secondary records were assembled from related works on preceding studies although primary data were collected from fact-finding. The sample size is 100 respondents made up of staff from the Federal Ministry of Works and the state ministry of works in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Four establishments of higher learning in Imo State were also covered. A list of contractors was assimilated from the federation of building and civil engineering contractors Imo State branch. The study exposed that arbitration has been established to be worthwhile and less time overwhelming. Furthermore, usage of arbitration is additional facilitated by the inclusion of an arbitration clause in most construction contracts which usually states that all disputes arising in the contract shall be settled by arbitration. The study concludes that the use of arbitration in dispute resolution in construction contracts not only minimizes cost and time but also facilitates cordial relationships among the parties after the dispute and this minimizes the incidence of project failure and abandonment in the construction industry. It recommended that in addition to proper education on the use of arbitration, there should be adequate enlightenment and awareness creation on the importance and use of arbitration in the building industry, especially in the informal sector.

COST CONTROL OF ENGINEERING SERVICES IN BUILDING AND HOUSING PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

Project cost controls in the Nigerian construction sector have always been under studied. For eve... more Project cost controls in the Nigerian construction sector have always been under studied. For every project to be successfully executed, its cost must have been analyzed and the cost from start to finish noted so as to prevent unnecessary contingency spendings which may hamper the complete execution of the project. Thus this prompted this study on the very aim of ascertaining cost control mechanisms and its impact on engineering services in building and housing project delivery in Nigeria. To achieve the above, the study employed four specific objectives and four research questions. The study is of a quantitative data conducted using descriptive statistical techniques. Additionally, detailed accounts of participant responses during the qualitative interviews were reported and tabulated under appropriate sections. The results of statistical analysis were interpreted: inferences were drawn from the results and discussed thoroughly to bring the research conclusions into focus. Quantitative data collection for this study was conducted through the use of a questionnaire survey. A total of two hundred and twenty-five (225) questionnaires were administered to construction stakeholders (architects, site engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors, contractors, building materials suppliers, site managers and government workers) in the Owerri Imo State of Nigeria. The study however concluded that increase in the building costs has been narrowed down to economic instability of this country. There exist array of factors that obstruct successful procurement of building construction projects. Several of these obstructions have been well researched upon and solutions proffered to improve projects procurement. One aspect of the recommendations that has received less than deserved attention is the proactive way of managing cost, believed will offer the deserved scientific cost management of building construction projects. Finally the study recommends that

FACTORS FOR PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATION

Preliminary cost estimating is an assessment of the expected cost of any construction project. Th... more Preliminary cost estimating is an assessment of the expected cost of any construction project. The accuracy of such estimate has a serious effect on the expected profit of the construction contractor. Hence, the amount envisaged in building projects in the Nigerian construction industry to finish a construction project is important. They are known to have adverse effect on the performance of building projects; therefore the aim of this study is to assess the factors for preliminary cost estimation of building projects in the Nigerian construction industry. To achieve the objectives of the study, the purpose and importance of cost estimation in the Nigerian construction industry and the factors that affects preliminary cost estimates of building projects were identified from the literature review and presented in the well-structured questionnaire for respondents to evaluate. Seventy-three successful completed questionnaires were analyzed. Twelve factors were identified that have severity greater than or equal to 0.85 of the importance index. The study reveals that the major factor that affects preliminary cost estimate is economic stability and therefore recommends that when preparing cost estimates for any future project, the economic stability and project location should be taken into consideration and should be embraced in the Nigerian construction industry.

Assessment of Nigerian Renewable Energy Potentials and Energy Poverty: Challenges and Prospects 1

The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and t... more The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and this raises the issues of a sustainable economic development and growth. Therefore, sustainable energy has become one of the most promising means of handling the challenges of energy demand problems of many consumers worldwide. However, solar energy is a clean energy source and thus power generation through this energy source imposes little or no environmental hazards. Unlike most conventional source of power generation and even some renewables like wind energy technologies, PV technologies generate no noise though the inverter systems could produce a system humming noise which is normally absorbed by the domestic noise background. The research aim is to assess the problems and prospects of achieving sustainable energy in Nigeria through photo voltaic (PV) technology. Descriptive and correlation research design was used in this research work. The population of the study comprises of selected practitioners in top five (5) solar firms in Nigeria, such as Ecozar Technologies, Leks Environmental Ltd Lagos, Wavetra Energy Ltd Lagos, Solar Force Nigeria PLC Abuja, Astrum Energy Solutions Enugu. A sample of 136 respondents was randomly drawn from the population of the study using a purposive sampling procedure. Data was obtained through questionnaire survey. Oral interview was also used to get more information from the respondents. Questionnaires were distributed to the relevant staff in accordance with the sample size. The data analysis was carried out using multiple regression and correlation methods. The test was conducted at 0.05 level of significance. A computer software based multiple regression analysis called statistical program for social science (SPSS) version 21 was used in the data analysis. The study reveals that technical challenges and economic and financial challenges are the most striking barriers to sustainable energy in Nigeria. The study recommends that Nigerian Government should invest in the development of Nigerian made PV panels which will contribute to the Nations GDP and GNI. These panels will also be exported and foreign exchange will flow into Nigeria's economy.

GSJ Variation in Building Construction Industry the Nigerian Perspective

A variation (sometimes referred to as a variation order or change order) is a change to the scope... more A variation (sometimes referred to as a variation order or change order) is a change to the scope of operation in a building contract in the form of an extension, substitution or omission from the original scope of works. The construction industry in the world and particularly in Nigeria, where construction projects suffer from variation orders, has been supported for a long time by changing orders. Such targets are usually not achieved in building projects, which hinder customer satisfaction according to Fatoye (2012). The aim of this research is to ascertain variation orders and it causes in building construction industry from Nigerian perspective, to achieve the aim of this research many objectives exists, these objectives can be summarized as (1) to investigate the factors causing variation order from the literature, (2) to extract real causes of variation order in building industry in Nigeria through literature content analysis of Nigerian origin. This study is based on a content analysis carried out on 8 major studies of Nigerian background in the subject matter. The justification for the 8 is because they represent core expectation of this study which borders on Nigerian perspective. The contents were analyzed using a benchmark of 4 to arrive at decision. This decision rule is based on the obvious that the mean of 8 is 4 which is 8/2 =4. Since we have 8 works, any factor or item that is captured by four (4) of the 8 major studies will adjudged significant, any factor below four is not significant. The study observed that out of the 12 identified owner related causes or factors of variation order from the 8 major studies of Nigerian perspective, five (5) are the core owner related causes of variation order in Nigerian building industry. They are namely in their order of significance: change of plans or scope by owner, change of schedule by owner, owner's financial problems, inadequate project objectives and replacement of materials or resources respectively.

Achieving Sustainable Energy in Nigeria Through Photovoltaic (PV) Technology ;Problems and Prospects

The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and t... more The global quest for sustainable development has dramatically increased in our modern times and this raises the issues of a sustainable economic development and growth. Therefore, sustainable energy has become one of the most promising means of handling the challenges of energy demand problems of many consumers worldwide. However, solar energy is a clean energy source and thus power generation through this energy source imposes little or no environmental hazards. The research aim is to assess the problems and prospects of achieving sustainable energy in Nigeria through photo voltaic (PV) technology. Descriptive and correlative design was used in this research work. The sample population of the study was delimited to and comprises of selected practitioners in top five (5) solar firms in Nigeria, 136 respondents was randomly drawn from the various population of the study using a purposive sampling procedure. Data was obtained through the instrument of questionnaire. Oral interview was also used to get more information from the respondents. The data analysis techniques used for the test of hypothesis are multiple regression and correlation method using (SPSS) version 21. The study concludes that technical challenges, economic and financial challenges are the most striking barriers. The study recommends that Nigerian Government should invest in the development of Nigerian made PV panels which will contribute to the Nations GDP and GNI. This will be the natural consequence since these panels will be exported and foreign exchange will flow into Nigeria's economy.

EXTENSION OF TIME EoT CLAIMS SUBSTANTIAT

In complex and multi-stakeholder construction projects, delays and disruption are commonplace. De... more In complex and multi-stakeholder construction projects, delays and disruption are commonplace. Delays trigger the request for Extension of time (EoT) to enable adequate time for the project to be completed. Substantiating the need for EoT is a difficult task and requires a lot of effort. The administration of EoT claims come with a lot of issues to the clients and the contractors. The purpose of this study is to assess the factors for substantiating Extension of time (EoT) claims and the common issues associated with (EoT) in complex-Multi Stakeholders' Building Construction contracts. This study adopted a wellstructured questionnaire administered on construction professionals in consulting and contracting organisations, via electronic means and using snowball sampling techniques in Abuja and Lagos state, Nigeria. With a response rate of 39.60% and an instrument reliability index of above 0.70, the gathered data were analysed using appropriate descriptive analytical tools. It was found that the major documents and records that have the level of importance for substantiating claims for extension of time are; time impact analysis showing the potential impact of the changes before carrying out the changes, change of work notices, claim register, programme updates, minutes of the daily, weekly, and meetings, and daily progress reports. The major disputed issues associated with claims for extension of time in construction contracts are concurrent delay, The absence of notice of delay by the contractor as required by the contract, eligibility of time extension claim, inadequate effort in mitigating the delay and poor demonstration of the impact of the delay event to the project schedule. Regular training and continuous professional development is required to enhance the skills and expertise of project administrators/managers for effective claim administration and management.