CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Nigeria has the to steer clear of violence and welcome peace if the nation is desirous of living together as one indivisible, indissoluble and united nation under one Creator as shown in the second verse of Nigeria's National Anthem, "O God of creation, Direct our Noble cause, and so on". It becomes therefore crucial to seek peace, justice and progress collectively in order to harness the advantageous social and economic objectives of businesses in the 21st century. However defiantly, the end of 2011 general election in Nigeria had led to mass recognition of another set of militant or insurgent team commonly called Boko Haram. This set of militants during the cause of prosecuting their goal have caused damage to properties well worth Billions of Naira, hindered ease of doing businesses, killed countless innocent people and contribute to religious misunderstanding in Nigeria.
The occurrence of cantankerous group in Nigeria especially the insurgence of Boko-Haram had prevented the development of economic activities in the nation. Olaide (2013) presumes that the embraced mode of prosecuting their goal have posed major risk to the Country called Nigeria and its citizens without leaving out foreigners. The insurgencies of Boko-Haram have reduced significantly the government derivation from the affected area because of restiveness in those areas as well as reduced investment and growth of business in the affected areas without leaving out government executed project. Not surprising that 2011 World Investment Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reported that lull in business activities caused by insurgency in Kano State alone has cost the Nigerian economy N1.3trillion ($6 billion) because of thise of attacks by the Boko-Haram group. It was later reported that the report monitored on the Voice of America (VoA) has likewise revealed that Centre for Research and Documentation in Kano connected the development to a drop in earnings for almost all businesses in the state.
Armed conflict damages societies in clear and striking ways, killing combatants and civilians and destroying crucial infrastructure. Its impacts are likewise felt indirectly, as economic production delays, food, education, and health systems break down, income generation stagnates or disappears, and displacement compels people into congested and unsanitary conditions. In several methods, dispute can be ‘development in reverse.
On the other hand, the desolation and destruction of human lives and properties by the insurgents group (Boko haram) with its indiscriminate activities such as kidnapping of innocent citizens; suicide bombing; destruction of constructing works in schools, market areas and places of worship, residents; assaults on highways; sporadic shooting of victims at close range, bombing of personal, public, religious and government properties and throat slitting has led to fear, anxiety, injury, emotion and mental disruptions which result in shutting down the majority of the activities that will add to socio economic growth negatively impacts the socio economic development of Maiduguri metropolitan council, Borno state. The harmful nature of insurgent attacks has it effect on student education by instilling worry and anxiety; and thus, making the children not to develop interest in joining school; and some go down from the school. It likewise impacts the school's calendar with its undesirable activities thus created worry, anxiety, trauma, emotion and mental disruptions which bring about shutting down school for some specific period in their studies and lack of certainty of life. It is against this background that this study examines the effects of Boko-Haram insurgency on construction project delivery in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
For many years in the North East, infrastructure development has been dealt with by insurgency challenges. The issue of this study worries on the the effects of Boko-Haram insurgency on construction project delivery in North-East, Nigeria for example if physical facilities like building or other construction works are destroyed or halt in work or deserted because of insecurity or constant activities of Boko Haram. It has been long that the North-East is dealing with a severe issue of non-availability of basic infrastructure.
According Nyako (2015), the cumulative impact of the conflict has worsened the general socio economic and governance scenario in the North East area. Major economic and social infrastructure such as the transport, communication systems, healthcare, education, banking structures in the zonal have either been ruined or seriously damaged. Because of this of the damage, economic activities have been disrupted, social interaction restricted and social exclusion increased therefore minimizing the chances for positive involvement.
The lasting effects of project delay because of insurgency and completely abandoning can likewise translate into a loss of development for the affected community. While infrastructure development brings higher economic and social development, lack of correct infrastructural development usually prevents a community from leaving the cycle of poor economic condition, preventing favorable effect infrastructure may have.
Wakil (2013) mentioned in Ugwu (2015); infrastructure development likewise lags behind in the north. In the North-East, for example, just 24% of household have access to electricity compared to 71% of households in the South-West.
Access to basic development needs that adequate and proper facilities and services are in place and that people within the neighborhood or region can have access to sufficient living basic. In some areas projects that have not been attacked have been similarly stopped, building works have been put on hold and contractors compelled to abandon their projects. When infrastructures are targeted or destroyed, the damages and its effects can be significant and far-reaching. This is due to the fact that after the attacks, several projects continue to be abandoned for long period which consequently seriously impacts the initial cost.
The need for infrastructure development in the developing world is crucial. According to Threlfall (2010), failing to improve the region's infrastructure will reduce North-East's growth process. He further suggested that failing to invest implies failure to grow and establish our social and economic fabric. According to Akinyosoye (2010), lack of infrastructure development has substantial unfavorable effect on country's economy and quality of life.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main aim of this study is to examine the effects of Boko-Haram insurgency on construction project delivery in Nigeria. However, the specific objectives include:
i) To understand the level of destruction to physical infrastructure in the region
ii) To examine the threats of Boko Haram insurgency on north east infrastructure development.
iii) To determine the significant effect of insurgency on infrastructural development in the region.
1.4 Research Questions
The research questions include:
i) What is the level of destruction to physical infrastructure in the region?
ii) What are the threats of Boko Haram insurgency on north east infrastructure development?
iii) What is the significant effect of insurgency on infrastructural development in the region?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The research hypotheses include;
i) There is a significant correlation between the threats of Boko Haram insurgency and infrastructure development in the north east
ii) There is no significant effect of insurgency on infrastructural development in the region
1.6 Significance of the Study
The intent of this research is to investigate the damages caused by the insurgency to the physical infrastructures in the North-East. The finding of will redound to the benefit of the society considering that infrastructure plays an important in social and economic development of every society today. The greater demand for infrastructure development in the North east region justifies the need for execution of functional and life changing capital projects. The study also gives a clear insight into the level of damages to existing physical infrastructures within the region and helps the public to be aware of the negative effects of the insurgency on infrastructure development. Administrators will be guided on the level of destruction on physical infrastructures. For the researcher, the study will help him uncover critical areas in infrastructure development that many researchers were not able to explore.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This study lies on the effects of Boko-Haram insurgency on construction project delivery in Nigeria. For the purpose of this study, Borno State was selected as the context of this study. The infrastructure development is further divided into the physical infrastructure and social infrastructure so as to provide the in-depth picture of the situation.
