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Project Monitoring and National Development in Nigeria: A Study of Selected Road Projects (The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway)

Chukwu Izunna Ogudu

Abstract

Project monitoring plays a vital role in ensuring the successful implementation of public infrastructure projects and the attainment of national development objectives. In developing countries such as Nigeria, road infrastructure remains a critical catalyst for economic growth, regional integration, trade facilitation, and improved social welfare. Despite substantial government investments in road construction, many projects have been affected by delays, cost overruns, poor quality execution, corruption, weak supervision, and project abandonment. Consequently, effective project monitoring has become increasingly important in promoting accountability, transparency, and efficient utilization of public resources. This study examined the relationship between project monitoring and national development in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on selected road infrastructure projects and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway as a case study. The study adopted a descriptive and analytical research design and relied on secondary sources of data, including government reports, policy documents, academic publications, and reports from international development organizations. The Lagos– Calabar Coastal Highway, a major national infrastructure project spanning approximately 750 kilometers across nine coastal states of Nigeria, was analyzed to assess the effectiveness of contemporary monitoring mechanisms in project delivery. Findings revealed that effective project monitoring contributes significantly to national development by enhancing project transparency, reducing inefficiencies, ensuring compliance with project specifications, and improving the timely delivery of infrastructure projects. The study further found that the

Keywords

Project MonitoringNational DevelopmentInfrastructure DevelopmentRoad ProjectsLagos–Calabar Coastal HighwayAccountabilityNigeria

References

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