for Effective Project Delivery in
Southeast, Nigeria
FEATURED PAPER
By Reuben Igwei, Ibeawuchi Ifeanyi Echemei, Elias Andy Ulokoii
i Department of Project Management Technology
Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Nigeria
ii NNPCL, Warri, Delta State Nigeria
Abstract
The study analyzed the identified barriers of construction project planning and scheduling for effective project delivery in Nigeria. The objectives are to: determine which of the identified barriers of project planning and scheduling that have significant effect on construction project delivery; determine the extent to which the identified barriers of project planning and scheduling can significantly affect construction project delivery collectively. Survey design was used and data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The result indicates that lack of management support, resource constraints, technology implementation challenges, communication breakdowns and, unforeseen external factors are significant barriers while regulatory and permitting delays is not a significant barrier. Hence, the study advocates periodic training and retraining of staff, design of effective communication channel for constant and adequate communication of project objectives and responsibilities, adoption of appropriate planning and scheduling technology, strict compliance and adherence to legal and professional ethics, and proper weather, economic and financial forecasting to predict and consider future behavior of unforeseen external factors during planning and scheduling of construction projects.
Keywords: barriers, construction projects, project planning and scheduling, project delivery, Southeast Nigeria.
1.0 Introduction
Project planning and scheduling play a key role in controlling project performance and they form core elements of management. These two integral parts of management are often used interchangeably rather than two distinct stages in determining the duration of a project and the feasibility of achieving the milestones involved in bringing the project to reality. Shash and Ahcom (2006) identified the precondition of successful project scheduling as the identification of all the activities involved in achieving project objectives, arrangement of these activities in their order, allocation of resources and durations to those activities. These two concepts are crucial in achieving project objectives, they must be carefully analyzed to avert potential risks that may hinder the quality of project planning and scheduling and ultimately affect project performance as a whole. without compromising quality and to enhance the reputation of a firm in term of quality delivery. Effective communication between construction plan, project objectives and management of changes during implementation also depend on project scheduling.
When there is a lack of understanding, applying project management concepts results in incomplete project plans and scheduling, as well as poor project performance (Ahern, Leavy, & Byrne, 2014). A lack of information about how to apply theories in practice like failure to identify and mitigate potential risks in environmental, geopolitical can lead to unanticipated challenges during project execution is a primary cause of poor project planning (Ahern et al., 2014). Project planning and scheduling should be rethought as a critical component or creative activity in deciding the ultimate success of a project, rather than as a preparatory function used to produce project timetables and resource plans. The planning outcomes should be properly integrated and presented to project stakeholders, who are the key players in a construction project, i.e. owners or clients (Public and Private), project managers, designers (or consultants) and contractors.
The importance and impact of project planning and scheduling on a project cannot be overstated, as poor scope definition in the early planning stages, environmental and geopolitical factors, such as regulatory changes, political instability, and community opposition leads to schedule slippage and cost overruns in mega projects. Such situations resulted from inappropriate initiation and preplanning, leading to poor definition of the project scope and scheduling: ‘’the requirement to make major changes in the objectives, scope, precise location, or any other major elements after the start of the detailed definition phase can make Project unmanageable” (Merrow, 2011)
At the preplanning stage, project stakeholders should be confident that they are making the most effective decisions about the defining of project scope as the foundation for more thorough planning. In summary, project managers and other stakeholders should understand how to bridge the gap between planning and scheduling theories and practices. This necessitates more thorough project planning and scheduling considering all barriers which could result from environmental, economic fluctuations and geopolitical space of the project location which could be accomplished through a competent team where learning is encouraged at both the organizational and project levels.
It is no news that construction projects in Nigeria are infamous owing to the perception of costs exceeding budget and project schedules stretching beyond contract period. This public perception is not entirely unfounded considering the increasingly large number of construction projects that exceed their contract periods and contract prices. The dearth of comprehensive Nigeria-centric studies on project performance in construction projects is a major reason for this research. The huge theoretical and empirical literature available globally on this subject suggests that Nigeria is not immune to the global scourge of time and cost overrun. Instructively, the different literature and studies have shown that the factors responsible for time and cost overrun and their remedies differ from one country to another. This points to the need for local and home-grown experiences and underscores the justification of this study. This study will, among other things, analyze the barriers of construction project planning and scheduling for effective project delivery. It will also serve as fundamentals to practice and the strategies that could help mitigate them to deliver successful projects.
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How to cite this paper: Igwe, R., Echeme, I. I., Uloko, E. A. (2025). Analysis of the Barriers of Construction Project Planning and Scheduling for Effective Project Delivery in Southeast, Nigeria; PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue XII, December. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pmwj159-Dec2025-Igwe-Echeme-Uloko-construction-planning-barriers-in-southeast-Nigeria.pdf
About the Authors
Reuben Chinonso Igwe
Owerri, Nigeria
Reuben Chinonso Igwe is an MSc candidate in Project Management Technology at the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria. He holds a B.Eng. in Civil Engineering and has over ten years of professional experience in project management and industrial supply chain operations. His research focuses on analyzing the enablers and barriers to construction project planning and scheduling for effective project delivery in South East Nigeria. As a Project and Sustainability Manager, he is committed to integrating sustainable practices into construction and infrastructure development. His long-term goal is to advance sustainable project management practices globally through research and innovation.
Ibeawuchi Ifeanyi Echeme
Owerri, Nigeria
Ibeawuchi Ifeanyi Echeme is a lecturer in the department of Project Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Echeme has a B.Tech, MSc, and PhD in Project Management Technology and has published more than fifteen (15) articles in both international and national reputable journals. Dr. Echeme has published a textbook on Project Time, Cost and Quality Management. He is a Chartered member of Chartered Institute of Project Managers Nigeria (CIPMN), Chartered member, Association of Practicing Project Managers of Nigeria (APPMON), Certified Project Director (CPD) and a member of International Project Management Professionals (IPMP). Dr. Echeme has presented papers in conferences and workshops within and outside Nigeria. He can be contacted through; ibeecheme@yahoo.com; Tel +2348032403835.
Elias Andy Uloko
Warri, Delta State Nigeria
Elias Andy Uloko is an accomplished Operations Engineer with over two decades of dedicated service at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). With more than 20 years of progressive experience in the oil and gas industry, he has developed deep expertise across key technical and managerial domains, including completions engineering, production engineering, facilities management, asset management, budgeting, and stakeholder management.
Elias holds a first degree in Chemical Engineering and a second degree in Project Management Technology, a combination that has equipped him with both the technical depth and strategic acumen required to manage complex operations and deliver sustainable results. His strong leadership, problem-solving ability, and commitment to operational excellence have earned him recognition as a dependable professional within NNPCL and the broader energy sector. Beyond his professional achievements, Elias Uloko Andy is a devoted family man.
