Causes and Effects of Scope Creep in IT Projects in Nigerian Commercial Banks in Lagos

Scope creep, the uncontrolled expansion of project scope beyond agreed boundaries, is a leading cause of IT project failure in financial institutions globally. This study examines the causes and effects of scope creep in IT projects implemented by commercial banks in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey will recruit 200 IT project managers, business analysts, and systems developers from ten leading commercial banks with Lagos-based technology hubs, including First Bank, GTBank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, and UBA. A structured questionnaire will assess sources of scope creep including changing client requirements, inadequate initial scoping, poor change control procedures, and stakeholder pressure. The Project Performance Index will measure effects on cost, schedule, and quality outcomes. Multiple regression analysis will identify the strongest predictors of project scope deviation. Recent Nigerian banking sector reports indicate increasing IT transformation project failures linked to evolving regulatory requirements and inadequate scope documentation. This study will provide actionable recommendations for IT governance frameworks and project management offices within Nigerian commercial banks. Keywords: scope creep, IT projects, commercial banks, Lagos, change control