Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between bill of quantities preparation practices and construction cost overrun has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Selected States in Northern Nigeria where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Selected States in Northern Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While bill of quantities preparation practices is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on construction cost overrun within Selected States in Northern Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to bill of quantities preparation practices are helping or hindering construction cost overrun — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Bill of Quantities Preparation Practices on construction cost overrun in Selected States in Northern Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which bill of quantities preparation practices influences construction cost overrun within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with bill of quantities preparation practices in relation to construction cost overrun.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing bill of quantities preparation practices in order to improve construction cost overrun.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of bill of quantities preparation practices on construction cost overrun in Selected States in Northern Nigeria?
2. To what extent does bill of quantities preparation practices influence construction cost overrun within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with bill of quantities preparation practices in relation to construction cost overrun?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize bill of quantities preparation practices in order to improve construction cost overrun?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around construction cost overrun. For managers and practitioners within Selected States in Northern Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how bill of quantities preparation practices can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on quantity surveying by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Selected States in Northern Nigeria, focusing specifically on how bill of quantities preparation practices relates to construction cost overrun within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.