Flood Disasters And Construction Project Schedule Performance In Trademore Estate, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Flooding poses a growing challenge to construction project delivery in rapidly urbanising areas of Nigeria. This study examined the reported effects of flood disasters on construction project schedule performance in Trademore Estate, Abuja. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, where 280 respondents participated in the survey, comprising 210 residents and 70 construction professionals working within the estate. 210 questionnaires were distributed using a stratified random sampling technique, while 70 questionnaires employed purposive random sampling. The sample was purposively structured to obtain complementary perspectives from the two stakeholder groups and provide sufficient information for descriptive statistical analysis and thematic interpretation. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed primarily through descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages. The findings indicate that flooding disrupted construction activities across the major project phases, with superstructure construction recording the highest proportion of reported delays (37.5%), followed by foundation works (32.1%). Respondents also reported disruptions to site safety and emergency preparedness, including compromised compliance with safety regulations (50%), evacuation procedures (40%), emergency medical response (35%), PPE availability (30%), and safety training (25.7%). The reported project-phase durations also increased following flood events, particularly during superstructure and foundation activities. The study concludes that recurrent flooding represents an important project-management and occupational-safety concern in flood-prone urban developments. It recommends integrating flood-risk assessment, contingency scheduling, drainage improvement, early-warning systems, emergency preparedness, and climate-responsive construction planning into project management practices to improve project continuity and resilience in Abuja.