Purpose In developing countries, governance structures are reputed to be weak, and infrastructure procurement is largely achieved through public sector financing. This study aims to examine the impact of governance quality on public sector infrastructure procurement in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Data on public infrastructure expenditure (CAPEX), revenue (REV) and debt burden (DEBT) were sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the period 2000–2017. In addition, the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Nigeria for the period was obtained from Transparency International. Data were analysed using Ordinary Least Square regression and Granger Causality Test. Findings Results indicate that CPI and DEBT have negative effects on public infrastructure procurement, whereas REV has a significant positive impact. The findings suggest that an increase in public sector corruption leads to increase in the share of public budget allocated to infrastructure procurement. Moreover, an increase in the amount allocated to debt burden lowers the share of public resources available for infrastructure procurement. Findings also show that revenue is a leading indicator of infrastructure procurement, and public expenditure for infrastructure procurement is leading cause of public sector corruption. Social implications In Nigeria, resources for financing infrastructure are scarce, and there have been reports of poor governance in infrastructure procurement. The establishment of a relationship between governance quality and infrastructure procurement will help in more efficient allocation of scarce public resources. Originality/value To resolve the governance-infrastructure question, the study established causal relationships between governance quality variables and public expenditure on infrastructure.

Purpose Effort towards improving project performance has necessitated the need for effective teamwork among the stakeholders in the construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to identify the major attributes of effective teamwork and the challenges encountered by the team during construction with a view to improving performance of projects. Design/methodology/approach Data for the study were obtained through 420 structured questionnaires, which were administered to a sample of project participants including clients’, contractors’ and consultants’ organizations’ representatives in South-Southern region of Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed using percentage, mean item score and Kruskal–Wallis rank test. Findings The findings revealed leadership skills, top management support and interpersonal dynamics of the team among the critical attributes for effective teamwork. The prevailing challenges of effective teamwork were identified as essentially; poor leadership, poor rapport among team members and lack of effective communication. Practical implications The study ultimately provides implication for effective team building among clients’, consultants’ and contractors’ organizations towards efficient delivery of construction projects. Moreover, the stakeholders in the industry would find the results of this research useful in managing human and non-human components of construction projects through the understanding of the attributes and challenges of teamwork with ultimate aim of achieving effective project performance. Originality/value The findings reveal that all the key stakeholders’ organizations; clients, consultants and contractors’ organizations exhibit similar perceptions of the attributes and challenges confronting teamwork in construction project delivery. The empirical evidence provided on the attributes and challenges would therefore offer robust information in building effective project team by stakeholders during the planning and implementation stages, which is a right step towards enhancing construction project performance.

The prevalence of cost overrun in project delivery suggests an acute dearth of inclusive understanding of the effect of risks on construction cost estimation. In aberrant to the generic assumptions, customary to inquiries in construction risk researches, this paper appraised critical construction estimating risks. The study evaluated the sources, frequency and significance of construction estimating risks, using data from a questionnaire survey of 206 quantity surveyors in Nigeria. The data were analysed using factor analysis, Fussy Set Theory, Terrell Transformation Index (TTI), and Kruskal Wallis H tests. The results showed that estimating risks are correlate seven principal sources, namely: estimating resources, construction knowledge, design information, economic condition, the expertise of estimator, geographic factor, cost data, and project factors (λ, > 0.70 <1.0). Twenty-nine risk factors likewise emerged critical construction estimation risks (TTI, 69-87 > 65 percent) and the top three were low construction knowledge, inaccurate cost information and changes in government regulations (factor scores > 0.60 > 0.50). The awareness and accurate assessment of these risks into project cost estimation would reduce cost overrun. The study, therefore, recommends synergies between projects’ internal/ external environments for proper scoping of these risks into project estimates.

The incessant collapse of high-rise buildings has necessitated research into the compliance of materials — structural components and elements — to standards. This study evaluated compliance of concreting materials with standards in building project delivery. It examined the factors that influence compliance with standards of materials used for producing concrete elements. A quantitative approach was adopted in the study where structured questionnaires were administered to designers and constructors (such as architects, engineers/site supervisors and quantity surveyors) in consulting and contracting organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria. The data were analysed using frequency distribution, mean score, standard deviation, factor analysis and Kruskal Wallis test. Factors affecting compliance of materials with standards were categorised into construction site-based and procurement-based. These are technical, regulation, procurement, capacity, performance, and skill. The study provides implications for quality building production through improved compliance of concreting materials to standards. It also found the neglect of the use of structural engineers' services and limited standards observance on site. These lead to substandard components and elements production. It, therefore, recommends efficient regulatory policies, enforcement mechanisms, improved training and instilling ethical standards among project stakeholders. .   Keywords – Building projects, Compliance, Concreting materials, National standards, Project delivery

The need to improve project delivery process is one of the leading advocacies of relevant construction industry reports. Improved process is sine qua non for improve performance. Critical to the improvement process, is the need to assess construction process' capability to meet design and production requirements. The present study examined process mapping of a cable-stayed bridge in the Nigeria's east-west coastal highway project. Qualitative data was collected through a three phase process mapping protocol using mainly self-generate, one-on-one interview and focus group. Twenty non-related sub-processes were identified from four pre-construction stages: investigation; feasibility; design; and tender. Integrative definition (IDEFO) and Unified Language Modelling (UML) are used to map the feasibility, design and the design sub-processes. The mapping indicates the design sequence is iterative and factually flexible until such a point where functional design satisfies appropriate forcing test. The study provides medium for communicating complex construction functions thereby facilitating common understanding in the way projects are delivered with appropriate information about inputs, output and resources.