Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between procurement method selection and project cost performance 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

Despite a growing body of literature on procurement method selection, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with project cost performance, particularly within Selected States in Northern Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about procurement method selection without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect project cost performance. 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 project cost performance in Selected States in Northern Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which procurement method selection influences project cost performance within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with procurement method selection in relation to project cost performance.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing procurement method selection in order to improve project cost performance.

1.4 Research Questions

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

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 Selected States in Northern Nigeria seeking to understand how procurement method selection translates into measurable outcomes around project cost performance. 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 project cost performance within the context of Selected States in Northern Nigeria. 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.