IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DELIVERY IN AKWA

IBOM STATE

Ukeme Etuk OKPOB

B.ENG (Enugu)
19/PG/EV/BT/010
 Chapter One
• Background of the Study

The construction industry had been adjudged to accounts for more than 10% of
global GDP (6-9% in developed countries) and employs about 7% of the global
workforce amounting to more 273 million people.
In Nigeria, the construction industry has always been a major contributor to the
country’s gross domestic product (GDP). For instance, according to the National
Bureau of Statistics (2020), construction contributed 6.83% to nominal GDP in Q2
2020, lower than 6.86% in 2019, 7.94% in Q1 2020.
This was shortly before covid-19 established its full presence in Nigeria
 However, the erstwhile vibrant nature of the global construction industry was temporary punctured
by the outbreak of corona virus disease in 2019.
 The impact of the epidemic has been phenomenal. Construction projects have been adversely
affected by the pandemic and will continue to have impacts on the Engineering and Construction
industries.
 In Nigeria, series of lockdowns were declared by the federal government to stem the tide of infection
and deaths. It involved complete restriction of movement across the country. The measures led to
closure of many companies including construction companies and subsequent loss of jobs and
livelihoods of many.

 This study examines the extent of this impact and develops a framework that will help stakeholders
especially the construction companies effectively manage themselves out of the pandemic.
 Research Problem

• The unexpected chaos caused by the impact of covid-19 pandemic on virtually every
section of the world economy has thrown Engineering and Construction practitioners’
response to the covid-19 impact into a very challenging mode
• This is coupled with the fact that finding resources/solutions that address the
shortcomings in the construction industry particularly in terms of country specific has
been difficult.
• This is due to the assertion that there is limited number of studies in the extant literature
which examined the impact of global pandemics on construction project delivery.
 Studies on covid-19 and project delivery across the world is gaining research attention. In
Nigeria, Ogunnusi et al. (2020) explored the effects of COVID-19 on the built asset
procurement and potential opportunities for the construction industry through a quantitative
means.

 While these studies examined the subject from Nigeria’s perspective, the study argues that
there is need to assess quantification of the specific problems associated with covi-19
pandemic and how they have influenced construction project delivery. None of the previous
studies investigated this.

 Besides, no known investigation of this nature has been conducted in Akwa Ibom state. The
outcome of this study could be used to triangulate similar outcome in other parts of the
country.
 Aim and objectives
The aim of this study is to appraise the impact of the current covid-19 pandemic and its impact on
construction project delivery in Akwa Ibom state with a view towards developing best practice framework
for effecting construction project delivery during the pandemic. The specific objectives are to:
1. Examine the problems caused by covid-19 pandemic in Akwa Ibom state construction industry;
2. Evaluate performance of construction projects during the covid-19 pandemic in Akwa Ibom state;
3. To explore impact of the covid-19 problems on construction project delivery in the study area;
4. Assess mechanisms for mitigating impact of covid-19 on construction project delivery in the study area;
and
5. Develop a framework for effective delivery of construction projects during the pandemic in the study area.
 CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Construction Industry in Nigeria

Concept of COVID-19 Disease
Problems Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic in Construction Industry
Construction Project Delivery
Mechanisms for Mitigating Impact of COVID-19 on Construction Project Delivery
Empirical Review
Gaps in Knowledge
 Theories underpinning the Study
• Stakeholder Theory: Stakeholder theory
states that organizations have relationships
with many constituent groups and they can
engender and maintain the support of these
groups by considering and balancing their
relevant interests
• Stakeholders on of construction projects
needs to adopt zero-tolerance policy to
impose safety measures during construction.
• Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
Theory: ERM involves to every level of
staff in organization and posited as an
integrated methodology.
• The fundamental elements of ERM are
the assessment of significant risks and the
implementation of suitable COVID-19
response to construction worker during
construction.
Theoretical Framework

Workforce Issues

Unavailability of Construction
Equipment and Materials

Delay in Project Completion

Impact of
Health and Safety of Workers COVID-19 on
Construction
Risk and Uncertainty
Industry

Financial Problems

Sustainability Problem

Figure 2.1: Theoretical framework

 
Conceptual Framework
 Total and Sample Population of the Study

CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODS

• Research Design: Exploratory survey Total and Sample Population of the Study
Registered Profession Population (N) Sample size (n)
design
Architects 73 61
• Study Area: Akwa Ibom State Builders 35 32
• Population of the Study: Architects, Quantity Surveyors 53 46
Builders, Quantity surveyors, Civil Civil Engineers 92 74

Engineers, and Health and Safety Total 253 213

Officers
This study adopted purposive sampling (10) in order to
• Data Collection: Questionnaire establish the population of health and safety workers in
Akwa Ibom State
 CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
Problems Caused by Covid-19 Pandemic in Akwa Ibom State Construction

Problems Caused by Covid-19 1 2 3 4 5 SUM Mean Item Ranking Remarks

Scores (MIS)
 

Restriction of movement 2 2 29 24 74 131 4.267 1st Significant

Delay project timeline 8 5 25 17 76 131 4.129 2nd Significant
Transportation/logistics problem 3 9 36 33 50 131 3.900 3rd Significant
High cost of construction materials 3 9 33 43 43 131 3.870 4th Significant
Increasing project cost 4 6 48 28 45 131 3.793 5th Significant
Suspension or slowing of ongoing project 1 10 40 46 34 131 3.778 6th Significant
reduced construction productivity 5 11 36 39 40 131 3.748 7th Significant
Abandonment of some projects 3 12 43 34 39 131 3.717 8th Significant
Reduced number of projects 3 14 41 35 38 131 3.694 9th Significant
Reduction of productivity 1 14 43 40 33 131 3.687 10th Significant
Unemployment 9 24 34 30 34 131 3.427 20th Significant
Contractual implication problems 7 22 47 37 37 131 3.282 21st Significant
Late payment 7 27 43 31 23 131 3.274 22nd Significant
Shortage of materials 11 18 45 41 16 131 3.251 23rd Significant
Disputes 12 24 40 35 20 131 3.206 24th Significant
Psychological/mental health issues (low morale) 12 29 36 35 19 131 3.152 25th Significant

Shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) 15 19 54 33 10 131 3.030 26th Significant

 Performance of Construction Projects During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Performance of Construction Projects 1 2 3 4 5 SUM Mean Item Ranking Remarks

Score
Meet client expectation and needs 7 11 36 34 43 131 3.725 1st Significant
Compliance to health and safety 11 21 31 21 47 131 3.549 2nd Significant
Client satisfaction 4 15 46 42 24 131 3.511 3rd Significant
Completed safely 9 17 42 33 30 131 3.442 4th Significant
Risk management 4 13 50 52 12 131 3.419 5th Significant
Completed to quality 7 20 43 41 20 131 3.358 6th Significant
Productivity 2 19 54 45 11 131 3.335 7th Significant
Profitability (Meet profit/fee goals) 9 21 33 54 14 131 3.328 8th Significant
Environment sustainable 5 20 49 41 16 131 3.328 8th Significant
Stakeholders/project team satisfaction 4 24 47 37 19 131 3.328 10th Significant
Business performance 1 26 53 32 19 131 3.320 11th Significant
Minimizing construction aggravation 4 20 58 35 14 131 3.267 12th Significant
Finance stability 12 24 51 37 7 131 3.022 13th Significant
Completed to cost 14 38 31 32 16 131 2.984 14th Insignificant
Completed to time 20 31 36 22 22 131 2.961 15th Insignificant
Having no dispute claims 8 38 48 30 7 131 2.923 16th Insignificant
No conflict 16 33 46 26 10 131 2.855 17th Insignificant
 Impact of the Covid-19 Problems on Construction Project Delivery

The result shows that the degrees of the correlation between covid-19 and project performance are
generally very weak except for the correlation between covid-19 and client satisfaction and completed safely
of project performance

The relationship between problems caused by covid-19 pandemic and the performance of construction
projects executed during covid-19 are fairly correlated
 Mechanisms for Mitigating Impact of Covid-19 on Construction Project Delivery
Mechanisms Parameters 1 2 3 4 5 SUM Mean Item Ranking Remarks
Scores (MIS)

Wearing of safety equipment/face mask 2 7 34 32 56 131 4.015 1st Significant

Maintaining social distancing 8 14 25 25 59 131 3.862 2nd Significant

No entry for unauthorized visitors to site 3 9 41 36 42 131 3.801 3rd Significant

Effective teamwork and collaboration 0 16 35 44 36 131 3.763 4th Significant

Increase project timeline to allow workers to follow 4 6 39 54 28 131 3.740 5th Significant
safety guidelines
Using hand sanitizer from time to time 4 12 39 36 40 131 3.732 6th Significant

Providing good transportation system 13 19 42 36 21 131 3.251 20th Significant

Government financial assistance 10 24 35 48 14 131 3.244 21st Significant
Cooperative and fair legislation 10 24 40 44 13 131 3.198 22nd Significant
Conduct risk analysis 12 21 40 49 9 131 3.167 23rd Significant
No sharing of phones/equipment 10 39 29 34 19 131 3.099 24th Significant
Disinfect workplace 7 36 46 27 15 131 3.053 25th Significant
Framework for Effective delivery of Construction Projects during Pandemic
 CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION

 The construction industry at the centre of the pandemic and have encounter difficulties in delivering construction projects. Mechanisms
for mitigating the impact of covid-19 in construction industry is imperative to maintaining workplace balance and protecting
construction workers health.

 However, the study concluded that problems caused by covid-19 are significant such as restriction of movement, delay project timeline,
transportation problems, high cost of construction materials, increasing project cost are the major problems caused by covid-19 in the
construction industry.

 However, the study concluded that problems caused by covid-19 are significant such as restriction of movement, delay project timeline,
transportation problems, high cost of construction materials, increasing project cost are the major problems caused by covid-19 in the

construction industry.

 Problem caused by covid-19 pandemic and the performance of construction projects executed during covid-19 are strongly correlated.
 Recommendations

i. Provision of health practitioner at construction site for site training on proper utilization of the mechanisms for mitigating the

spread of the virus and also to develop effective collaboration template to fight the spread the virus. Collaborative efforts are needed

in curbing the spread of the virus.

ii. Strict adherence to safety guidelines recommended by NCDC and WHO.

iii. Government support in creating loans with lenient terms and condition.

iv. Enhancing the adoption of digitalisation, as it will improve construction project performance.
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