Analysis of Cost Information Management Frameworks for Construction Projects in Nigeria

The availability of reliable, timely, and contextually appropriate cost information is the foundation of professional quantity surveying practice, yet the frameworks for managing such information in Nigeria remain ad hoc and fragmented. This study analyses cost information management frameworks used in construction projects in Nigeria, examining practices across major firms in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu. A sequential mixed-method design was adopted, commencing with qualitative framework mapping through 35 interviews followed by a quantitative survey of 168 quantity surveyors. Thematic analysis and chi-square tests were applied. Findings reveal that Nigerian construction cost information management is characterised by silos, with no shared platform for cost benchmarking, outdated professional cost guides, and heavy reliance on memory-based pricing by experienced surveyors. Less than 30% of firms maintain structured cost feedback systems that capture project out-turn data for future estimating use. The study develops a conceptual cost information management framework adapted to the Nigerian quantity surveying context, integrating digital data capture, professional body governance, and regional segmentation. Unlike prior studies that describe the problem, this research proposes and validates a structured framework through expert panel assessment. Recommendations are directed at NIQS, academic institutions, and individual firms seeking to professionalise their cost data infrastructure. This research makes an original theoretical and practical contribution to construction cost information science in sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: cost information management, quantity surveying, framework, Nigeria, construction