Implications of Marginalized Stakeholders to Infrastructure Projects Success in Nigeria.

Abstract

The successful implementation of projects has been significantly impacted by the marginalization or omission of stakeholders in various aspects of organizational, project, or community management, including decision-making and resource distribution. In Nigeria, the practice of neglecting these key participants in infrastructure initiatives has led to substantial consequences for project timelines, financial allocations, and adherence to project specifications. The objective of this study is to investigate the implications of the exclusion of stakeholders in infrastructure projects success in Nigeria. A comprehensive survey was administered to gather data from 501 individuals representing various professional fields, including engineering, technology, technical work, contracting, consulting, and local community involvement. These participants were associated with three selected infrastructure projects in Nigeria. The survey respondents were categorized into three distinct groups: Project Managers, Design Consultants, and Local Community Residents. The research examined five crucial aspects: (1) how communities are involved in discussions and deliberations about infrastructure projects, (2) the extent of residents/communities participation in making decisions, (3) the consideration of stakeholders' attributes, including their knowledge, influence, power, and interests, (4) the various strategies, both collaborative and aggressiveness, employed by stakeholders to influence projects, and (5) how the perceived legitimacy and urgency of issues influence stakeholders' choice of aggressive tactics. Using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software, a descriptive analysis of the data to assess the extent of stakeholder exclusion from infrastructure projects in Nigeria was conducted. The study revealed several crucial findings about infrastructure projects in Nigeria: (1) Community engagement is limited, with 38.9% of participants agreeing and 37.7% disagreeing that local inhabitants are actively involved in discussions about these developments. (2) A considerable 45% of respondents disagreed that residents and communities are included in the decision-making process, indicating widespread exclusion. (3) A narrow majority (47.9%) of those surveyed believe that Nigerian infrastructure projects consider stakeholders' characteristics, knowledge, power, and interests. (4) The majority of participants (55.4%) indicated that stakeholders employed both collaborative and confrontational tactics to influence infrastructure projects. (5) 55.2% of respondents concurred that the perceived legitimacy and urgency of issues are the primary factors driving stakeholders' confrontational approaches in Nigerian infrastructure initiatives. The study results suggest that neglecting stakeholders can negatively impact infrastructure projects. Therefore, it is crucial for Nigerian project managers and design consultants to understand the possible adverse outcomes of stakeholder exclusion, which may result in project delays and abandonment. To ensure the effective execution of infrastructure projects in Nigeria, both government and private sector project sponsors must recognize all stakeholders and consider their perspectives. It is advised that project initiators engage all key stakeholders throughout the entire project lifecycle, from initial planning to final completion.