Analysis of Project Abandonment in Public Sector Infrastructure Projects in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria

Project abandonment in the Nigerian public sector represents a persistent governance failure, with thousands of incomplete infrastructure projects scattered across federal and state constituencies. This study analyzes the factors responsible for project abandonment in public sector infrastructure projects in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. A mixed-methods descriptive design will survey 200 government officials, project managers, contractors, and community leaders from 20 abandoned infrastructure projects across road, water, and school construction in Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa, and Alkaleri local government areas. A structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews will capture information on funding discontinuity, political interference, corruption, community conflict, and contractor failure. Thematic analysis will complement descriptive statistics and regression findings. Evidence from North East Nigeria consistently implicates political will and budget irregularities as the primary drivers of project abandonment, though contractor-side failures are also significant. This study will provide a comprehensive diagnostic framework for understanding abandonment in Bauchi State and recommend policy and institutional reforms for the Bauchi State Bureau of Project Monitoring and Evaluation. Keywords: project abandonment, public sector, infrastructure, Bauchi State, North East Nigeria