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 Sokoto State. 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.

Sokoto State 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

Despite a growing body of literature on procurement method selection, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with construction cost overrun, particularly within Sokoto State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about procurement method selection without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect construction cost overrun. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Procurement Method Selection on construction cost overrun in Sokoto State.
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 Sokoto State?
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

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 Sokoto State, the study provides practical insight into how procurement method selection 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 Sokoto State, focusing specifically on how procurement method selection 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.