Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between procurement method selection and timeliness of project delivery has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja 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 timeliness of project delivery, particularly within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Many organizations continue to make decisions about procurement method selection without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect timeliness of project delivery. 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 timeliness of project delivery in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
2. To assess the extent to which procurement method selection influences timeliness of project delivery within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with procurement method selection in relation to timeliness of project delivery.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing procurement method selection in order to improve timeliness of project delivery.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of procurement method selection on timeliness of project delivery in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja?
2. To what extent does procurement method selection influence timeliness of project delivery within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with procurement method selection in relation to timeliness of project delivery?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize procurement method selection in order to improve timeliness of project delivery?

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 timeliness of project delivery. For managers and practitioners within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 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 the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, focusing specifically on how procurement method selection relates to timeliness of project delivery within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.