In Steel Fabrication Projects within
the Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria
PEER REVIEWED PAPER
By Godson Kelechi, M.Sc
Rivers State University
Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Abstract
This study examined roles and challenges encountered by the quantity surveyors in steel fabrication projects with respect of oil and gas sector in Nigeria. Its main goal is to evaluate their participation throughout various project stages, and to suggest strategies for better integration. The oil and gas sector, being one of the most technically demanding and capital-intensive industries in Nigeria, requires effective cost management to ensure value for investment. A descriptive survey design was adopted, using a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale and this study employed a purposive sampling techniques. Respondents included practicing quantity surveyors, engineers, architects, contractors, and project managers operating in major oil and gas States such as Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Cross River State. Out of eighty-five (85) distributed questionnaire, seventy (70) valid responses were received and analyzed. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation-through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 25.0).
Results showed that quantity surveyors significantly contribute to cost planning, contract administration, tender evaluation, cost control, value engineering, and post project audits especially during the procurement phase. Nonetheless, their participation in the design, fabrication, and commissioning phases remains minimal due to several limitations. This study also identified some major challenges which include issues of low professional recognition with respect the oil and gas sector, lack of institutional policy support system, limited access to specialized training and also lack of digital technologies, poor integration into multidisciplinary construction project teams, and lack of adequate technical exposure to industrial and process engineering. However, this study also recommends that there is the need for good collaboration between the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to improve policy inclusion which will aid to enhance industrial cost engineering training.
Keywords: Quantity Surveyors, Steel Fabrication, Oil And Gas Sector, Cost Management, Nigeria.
- Introduction
A successful delivery of construction projects will help to enhance project efficiency and effectiveness and also enable various construction professionals to meet up construction project deadlines (Kelechi, Amadi, & Chinemerem, 2025). The oil and gas industry serves as a fundamental pillar of Nigeria’s economy, contributing over 80% of the nation’s government revenue and foreign exchange income (Nwosu et al., 2022). Development infrastructure in this sector particularly steel fabrication for pipelines, refineries, and offshore platforms requires precise cost management, effective scheduling, and optimal resources utilization. These responsibilities align with the professional expertise of quantity surveyors, who ensure financial control and cost predictability throughout project lifecycle (Oladokun & Gbadebo, 2020). Using Nigeria as a case study, it is essential to note that the quantity surveyors role has adequately progressed beyond the construction of building and involving engineering and industrial projects which include those vital projects within the gas and oil sector. In addendum, even their important contributions, the inclusion of quantity surveyors with respect to steel fabrication projects is still limited and also not valued (Ameh & Osegbo, 2019). They encounter several professional obstacles, including insufficient technical proficiency in industrial processes, limited exposure to fabrication techniques, weak regulatory support, and poor collaboration among stakeholders (Oladapo et al., 2021). Geographical industrial distribution significantly influences both the challenges and opportunities faced by quantity surveyors. Additionally, Nigeria’s dependence on imported steel and limited domestic production capacity increase cost estimation risks (Udo & Akpan, 2020). Institutional barriers further compound these challenges, including the slow alignment of professional organizations like the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors with industrial standards, insufficient training in oil and gas costing, and the absence of frameworks that formally integrate Quantity Surveyor roles to Engineering, procurement, and Construction contracts (Okolie et al., 2023). The study concentrates on key regions of oil and gas activity particularly the Niger Delta (South–South), South– West, and North–Central zones. The Niger Delta, comprising Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Edo States, is the core of Nigeria’s petroleum production. This region houses majors industrial establishments such as the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Bonny Island, the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and fabrication facilities like NigerDock (Onne) and Aveon Offshore. These projects rely heavily on specialized quantity surveyor expertise for cost estimation, procurement, and efficient resource management (Adewuyi & Odesola, 2021).
Globally, the Quantity surveying profession is evolving toward cost engineering and value management, especially within technologically advanced industries (Laryea & Hughes, 2021). For Nigeria to achieve sustainable growth in its oil and gas infrastructure, quantity surveying professionals must be repositioned to play more active roles in steel fabrication and industrial cost management (Akinradewo et al., 2022). Accordingly, this study seeks to: examine the roles of quantity surveyors in steel fabrication projects within the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, assess the challenges faced by quantity surveyors in executing steel fabrication projects in oils and gas sector, determine the extent of quantity surveyors’ involvement across different project phase (design, procurement, fabrication, and commissioning) and identify strategies to enhance the integration of quantity surveyors in steel fabrication projects within the oil and gas sector.
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How to cite this paper: Kelechi, G. (2026). An Assessment of the Roles and Challenges of Quantity Surveyors in Steel Fabrication Projects Within the Oil And Gas Sector in Nigeria, PM World Journal, Vol XV, Issue I, January. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pmwj160-Jan2026-Kelechi-quantity-surveyors-in-steel-fab-projects-in-oil-and-gas.pdf
About the Author
Godson Kelechi, M.Sc
Rivers State University
Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Godson Kelechi is an assistant Lecturer at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt and a probationer (member) of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS). He holds a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in the Department of Quantity Surveying with Second Class Upper Division at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt and Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Project Management Technology from Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State and currently pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) in Construction Management at the Department of Building, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State. He hails from Egwi, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Godson Kelechi can be contacted at godsonkelechi44@gmail.com
