EU WSSSRP Project

Project Constrains / Problems
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This project was plagued by multiple constrains from inception.
Delayed project commencement date, due to the absence of the client’s project consultant. Hence the start date was shifted from 8^th August, 2018 to 10^th October 2018. Minimum of six weeks was lost after our mobilization.

‍Delayed mobilization payment: The mobilization was deliberately delayed by the client for six (6) months. At some point the M-P Infrastructure team had to demobilize for ten (10) weeks till payment was made by the client.

Client hostile nature. A few of the client representatives were very hostile and their grievances were openly expressed. They were aggrieved that a company from Lagos was awarded a contract instead of a company from Adamawa State.

‍Discrepancies of data on client’s project brief. The data on the bidding document did not reflect actual on site. We had 3km on BOQ while actual was 4.5km. The consequences and the financial implication as a result of the poor data collection was massive. The additional cost of another 1.50km reticulation associated with an increased head. Initial head of (0- 180) KM escalated to (0-225) KM and this massively altered the power requirement and configuration (power generators and the capacity of the transfer pumps to be provided). These errors created the additional works component termed the “The additional works contract”. Thus, bringing the contract value to N490M. It took six (6) months to get these problems resolved on paper.

‍Skewed BOQ: Our BOQ on this project was skewed and aligned to get a particular cost output. Simply put “we worked towards the result” And at implementation, it was discovered that the actual cost of the specified G-I Pipes for the initial 3.0KM would gulp 75-80% of the initial N350M. Hence, the project was destined to face challenges at a monumental scale. This was finally resolved by the adoption and substitute use of the HDPE pipes. Equally, time was lost to arrive and agree on it.

‍General Insecurity: The insecurity across the project sites were unprecedented. Boko haram attacks and influences, banditry, abductions, kidnapping and theft was rife.

‍Covid 19: The covid 19 pandemic restricted work output.

‍Lack of experience: The team lacked some of the core experiences and expertise that would have been of advantage in prompt resolution of some of the issues raised above.

Impact from the constrains. Timelines were significantly impacted negatively. 18 months project became 30 months.Budget margins were difficult to keep or maintain.The project was at the brink of being abandoned.
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Success/mitigation.The determination by the team was key to salvaging the project.Our improvisation by recommendation and getting approval for the use of substitute materials resurrected the project. G-I pipes to HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)Due diligence on resources allocation was key in achieving some level of control.Local security was engaged to accompany the team to site.The design expertise/collaborations provided by our south Africa partners was commendable.
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RecommendationThere is the need to ride on lessons learnt for similar projects in the future.