Project Management Practices and Timely Completion of Government Infrastructure Projects in Ebonyi State

The persistent problem of delayed and abandoned government infrastructure projects in Ebonyi State represents a significant drain on public resources and a direct impediment to the socio-economic development aspirations of the state. This study examines the relationship between project management practices and the timely completion of government infrastructure projects in Ebonyi State. The research is anchored on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Framework, which identifies five process groups, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closure, as the structural foundations of effective project management. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed. The population comprised project managers, quantity surveyors, contract officers, and ministry officials involved in 34 ongoing or recently completed infrastructure projects in Ebonyi State. A sample of 162 respondents was drawn through purposive and stratified random sampling. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and project document reviews, and analysed using regression analysis and chi-square tests. Findings reveal that scope definition clarity, stakeholder engagement quality, and risk management planning are the project management dimensions most significantly associated with on-time project completion. The study further finds that contractor selection transparency and adequate budget allocation at the project inception stage reduce time and cost overruns by over 45 percent. It is concluded that the adoption of professional project management standards significantly enhances the completion rate of government infrastructure projects. The study recommends that the Ebonyi State Government establish a dedicated Project Monitoring Unit staffed by certified project management professionals to oversee all capital projects from inception to handover.

Keywords: Project management, infrastructure projects, PMBOK, Ebonyi State, timely completion