IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON PUBLIC BUILDING PROJECTS IN ABUJA METROPOLIS
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of environmental factors on the performance of public
building projects within Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria. The research was driven by the persistent
delays, cost overruns, and abandonment of projects resulting from inadequate consideration of
environmental influences during project planning and execution. A quantitative research
design was adopted, utilizing structured questionnaires administered to 171 respondents drawn
from contractors, consultants, and clients engaged in public construction projects. Data
collected were analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) to rank the severity of
various environmental factors. The findings revealed that construction technology and physical
factors exert the most significant influence on project performance. Specifically, late delivery
of materials and equipment, inappropriate construction methodologies, and scarcity of plant
and machinery were identified as key technological challenges. Physical factors such as
unfavorable site conditions, risk of erosion, poor accessibility, and natural obstacles were also
found to critically affect project delivery. Political factors, including over-centralization of
decision-making and policy inconsistency, as well as socio-cultural factors such as community
leadership influence and civil disturbances, were shown to indirectly shape project execution
by creating administrative and social bottlenecks. The study concludes that effective
management of environmental factors is essential for achieving sustainable and efficient
project outcomes. It recommends that project stakeholders adopt proactive strategies such as
enforcing timely material delivery systems, applying modern construction technologies,
conducting comprehensive geotechnical and environmental assessments, and strengthening
policy consistency. Furthermore, community engagement and decentralization of decision
making processes are essential for minimizing conflicts and enhancing public project
performance in Abuja.
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