EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT ABANDONED PROJECTS ON SOCIO-ECONOMY OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The abandoned government projects (GAP S ) is considered to be one of the serious problems affecting the development of Ondo State, Nigeria given the numbers and the value of the projects involved. The study identified the various abandoned projects and investigated the causes of government abandoned projects in Ondo State. Thus, the potential causes of GAPs were also reviewed and summarized into 34 items rated in a wide questionnaire survey. One hundred (109) copies of questionnaire were distributed out of which ninety three (93), which represents (85%), were returned. The respondents include Engineers, Contractors (Civil/Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Architect), Civil servants and businessmen/women. The method of data analysis was simple descriptive statistical techniques (frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation). The results showed cost underrun with the highest mean 4.2 and shortage of site workers (4.01) as some of the major causes of government industrial abandoned projects due to resources challenge, fraudulent practices and bribery and corruption (4.14). Also, bureaucratic bottleneck in managing the projects (4.14), lack of clear responsibility (4.14), communication problems and poor coordination (3.90), lack of project control and monitoring (3.90) are the major causes of government industrial abandoned projects. The study recommends that government should make sufficient fund available, competent and reputable contractors should handle the projects. There should be good management to ensure proper planning, budgeting, control and evaluation of projects as part of measure to minimize the effects of these government abandoned projects.