Project Risk Management Maturity in Nigerian Construction Industry: A Study of Firms in Edo State, South South Nigeria

Risk management maturity reflects an organization's capacity to systematically identify, assess, and respond to project risks, and its level significantly influences project success rates. This study assesses risk management maturity in Nigerian construction firms in Edo State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey will recruit 140 project managers, risk officers, and senior engineers from 20 registered construction firms in Benin City and Auchi. The Risk Management Maturity Model (RM3) will assess maturity across five levels from ad hoc to optimizing. Firm characteristics including size, years of operation, project type, and ISO certification status will be analyzed as predictors of maturity level. ANOVA and logistic regression will compare maturity across firm categories. Evidence from South South Nigeria suggests that risk management in construction is predominantly reactive, with formal risk registers and contingency plans absent in most small and medium firms. Findings will guide risk management capacity development programs and inform professional body certification requirements for practitioners in Edo State. Keywords: risk management maturity, construction industry, Edo State, RM3, project risk