Track: Project Management

Abstract

Project implementation arguments on expatriate and indigenous contractors in the Nigerian construction industry are based on their performance on construction projects. Expatriate contractors are engaged more on large-scale construction projects leaving the indigenous contractors to small-scale projects. The Nigerian construction industry is not faced with the challenge to draw foreign contractors but to encourage indigenous participation. This study is aimed at determining the cost performance of road projects executed by expatriate and indigenous contractors with a view at drawing a comparison to know how efficient the two groups of contractors are. The study adopted a qualitative research design approach. This is achieved by observing the subject matter in its natural settings and attempting to interpret the pattern and behaviours of the subject matter. With the use of pro-forma, archival data on road project cost executed in Ekiti state between January 2018 and July 2019 were retrieved from the state Ministry of Works. A total of 61 road projects were completed with 28 constructed by indigenous contractors and 33 constructed by expatriate contractors. The retrieved cost data were analysed using descriptive statistics. From the findings of this study, it was evident that road projects executed by indigenous contractors experience less cost overrun compared to road projects executed by expatriate contractors while indigenous contractors execute fewer road projects. It was therefore recommended that indigenous contractors should be patronised by clients in the construction industry to boost the economy and also improve the employment rate by engaging more local manpower.