Project Performance in Akwa
Ibom State, Nigeria
FEATURED PAPER
By Indongesit Alfred Udo, Ibeawuchi Ifeanyi Echeme, Emmanuel Chinenye Ubani
Project Management Technology Department
Federal University of Technology,
Owerri, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This study is an explorative study on the maintenance of road construction in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. The objectives are to: identify the causes of deterioration of major highways to serve as a guide for project performance; assess the performance indicators of highway maintenance for effective project performance; analyze the determinants of road maintenance project performance in Akwa Ibom State vis-à-vis; funding, physical resources, monitoring and control and; proffer solutions for achieving the goal of road maintenance project performance in Akwa Ibom State. Questionnaire was used to collect data. Relative severity index (RSI) and multiple regression was used to analyze the data collected. The result of the RSI show that lack of drainage system & underground water is the major causative factor that lead to highway deterioration in Akwa Ibom State. This is followed by poor design construction. Whereas weak local professional bodies are the least causative factor. Multiple Regression result show that five out of the six identified challenges of road maintenance projects are significant while training and development is not a significant challenge. Funding is the most critical challenge faced by road maintenance projects in Akwa Ibom State. The study recommend that preventive and predictive maintenance policies should be adopted, Realistic budgets with seamless release of fund and; that drainage system should be included in road maintenance design and back-up with prompt and adequate funding for implementation.
Keywords: Project performance, Drainage system, funding level, highway deterioration and maintenance, physical resources, poor quality of design and materials, technical capability.
- Introduction
There has been increasing public concern due to the terrible and decaying state of the major highways in South-South Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State in particular. The reason they have been in this condition for so long is that the agencies in charge of maintaining the roads have not given them enough care and attention. These prominent highways suffer from inadequate maintenance or upkeep due to their shoddiness and unreliability. The roads are not suitable for use in all seasons due to the lack of maintenance, and they are unable to tolerate severe weather or heavy traffic (National Technical Working Committee on Transport, 2009).
According to a casual assessment, the majority of the roads in the Akwa Ibom State are in extremely poor shape and need either proper maintenance or complete rehabilitation. But the majority of the roads are in extremely bad shape, with gullies, potholes, erosion, flooding, and other signs of deterioration. This is mostly caused by poor or nonexistent road maintenance, with inadequate plans for timely and economically sound completion. Trunk A and trunk B road quality and dependability have grown increasingly elusive. A case in point in Akwa Ibom State includes; Ibeno road in Oron, Calabar Itu road, and Ikot Ekpene road. In order to support an effective transport system in Akwa Ibom State, the State Government and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) are either now rehabilitating or have completed rehabilitating the crumbling portions of these highways. The Executive Bill that was approved by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President is known as FERMA.
More…
To read entire paper, click here
How to cite this paper: Udo, I.A., Echeme, I.I. Ubani, E.C. (2026). Assessment of Selected Highway Road Maintenance Project Performance in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria; PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue VII, July. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/pmwj166-Jul2026-Udo-Echeme-Ubani-Assessment-of-Highway-Maintenance.pdf
About the Authors
Idongesit Alfred Udo
Owerri, Nigeria
Idongesit A. Udo, M.Sc., is a Mechanical Engineer and Project Management professional with more than ten (10) years of experience. She holds a B.Eng. and M.Sc. in Project Management Technology from FUTO and is a registered member of NSE and COREN. During NYSC she served as Vice President, NDLEA CDS Group, Eket Chapter, and led a tree-planting project for environmental sustainability. Her work focuses on infrastructure management.
Ibeawuchi Ifeanyi Echeme, PhD
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 Sixty (60) 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
Emmanuel C. Ubani
Owerri, Nigeria
Prof. Emmanuel C. Ubani holds BSc. and MEng in Industrial Engineering; PhD in Project Management Technology. Former Head, Department of Project Management Technology, and former Associate Dean, School of Management Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri. He is a member of Nigeria Society of Engineers (MNSE), Fellow Institute of Industrial Administration (FIIA). He has published widely in both International and local Journals.
