In Nigeria, it is not uncommon to see lots of abandoned building and infrastructural projects and this is quite unfortunate, some of these projects even get abandoned as early on as at inception. A good number of building projects started with good intentions but get abandoned at different stages of the construction and design process, it is highly unlikely that anyone sets out to build a house and then abandon it midway. Knowing why this happens could help in reducing the rate of abandonment and this in turn provides housing for citizens and also creates employment opportunities for professionals in the construction industry. Also, curbing the trend of building project abandonment eliminates wasting of funds, human efforts and material resources; it also enhances socioeconomic development of the society.

One of the most prevalent reasons why building projects get abandoned is incorrect estimation of cost. When costing, never fail to set aside contingency fees for unforeseen expenses that might spring up during the course of the execution of the project. Lots of buildings have been suspended or abandoned due to the proprietor lacking funds to continue.

Other popular factors are poor planning, poor understanding of the work requirement, lack of available skilled and experienced personnel, inconsistent government policies, poor quality control by regulatory agencies, incompetent contractors and failure on the part of the contractors to obtain vital inputs such as materials and manpower.

To put a stop to this bothersome trend, the following points need to be put into consideration when embarking on a project:

• The need to employ the services of professionals who are skilled and experienced in construction cannot be overemphasized. Sometimes to save money, proprietors of projects cut corners by failing to employ people with the needed expertise for the project and more often than not, this backfires.
• Before the commencement of a project, an assessment of the available resources should be made. Only new projects which can be completed with the available resources should be made. Don’t embark on erecting a twin duplex when you are aware your finances can only cover for the construction of a 3-bedroom flat.