Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Procurement Method Selection has emerged as a critical factor shaping construction cost overrun across organizations operating in and around Nigeria and Selected ECOWAS Member States. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how procurement method selection relates to construction cost overrun has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Within the context of Nigeria and Selected ECOWAS Member States, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of procurement method selection on construction cost overrun, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While procurement method selection is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on construction cost overrun within Nigeria and Selected ECOWAS Member States 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 procurement method selection 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 Procurement Method Selection on construction cost overrun in Nigeria and Selected ECOWAS Member States.
2. To assess the extent to which procurement method selection influences construction cost overrun within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with procurement method selection in relation to construction cost overrun.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing procurement method selection in order to improve construction cost overrun.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of procurement method selection on construction cost overrun in Nigeria and Selected ECOWAS Member States?
2. To what extent does procurement method selection influence construction cost overrun within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with procurement method selection in relation to construction cost overrun?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize procurement method selection in order to improve construction cost overrun?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of quantity surveying, this study has practical value for management teams within Nigeria and Selected ECOWAS Member States seeking to understand how procurement method selection translates into measurable outcomes around construction cost overrun. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Procurement Method Selection and its relationship with construction cost overrun within the context of Nigeria and Selected ECOWAS Member States. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.