Awareness and Compliance with Builders’ Risk Insurance among Construction Professionals in Gombe State, Nigeria (Published)
Builders’ Risk Insurance (BRI) is an important risk-transfer mechanism for protecting construction projects against specified losses during the construction period. However, awareness of insurance requirements does not necessarily translate into sustained compliance. This study investigates this awareness–compliance gap among construction professionals in Gombe State, Nigeria. The study pursued two objectives: to assess the level of awareness of BRI and to determine the level of compliance with BRI requirements. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The study population comprised 400 construction professionals, from which a sample of 196 was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan approach. Structured questionnaires were administered to architects, builders, civil engineers and quantity surveyors, yielding 191 valid responses and a 97.4% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression. The results indicate relatively high awareness of BRI (grand mean = 3.71), particularly regarding its existence (M = 4.21), purpose (M = 4.15) and mandatory nature (M = 4.08). However, compliance was comparatively weaker (grand mean = 3.62), with particularly low scores for continuous policy renewal (M = 3.08) and regulatory verification of insurance certificates (M = 2.94). Regression analysis further indicates a significant positive association between awareness and effective construction risk management (β = 0.64, R² = 0.410, p < 0.001). The findings reveal that the principal implementation problem is not simply lack of awareness but the conversion of knowledge into sustained compliance. The study contributes context-specific evidence by demonstrating an awareness–compliance implementation gap in Gombe State and proposes a lifecycle-oriented approach to BRI implementation.
Keywords: Compliance, Nigeria, Risk Management, builders’ risk insurance, construction professionals, construction risk, insurance awareness
Risk Management and Quality Projects Delivery in Nigeria’s Construction Industry (Published)
The delivery of poor quality construction projects in Nigeria presents a problem which this paper attributes to low levels of Risk and Risk Management awareness, understanding and practice. The little or none existence of a formalised and regulated Risk Management process means the construction industry which normally has a high presence of risk is not adequately managed hence an uncontrolled and unmitigated effect on the value and quality of projects delivered. This paper verifies this submission by investigating Risk Management awareness and practice levels in the industry through a survey targeting experienced personnel who by their project positions are expectedly knowledgeable enough to provide credible feedback. A review focused on select Risk Management literature with an objective of creating the necessary knowledge and understanding needed to practice and apply Risk Management, and also most importantly, evaluate how it relates and influences the delivery of quality construction projects of value. This paper presents results fed by questionnaires specifically designed and administered to unravel and establish Risk Management awareness and practice levels. It reveals low, inconsistent and a non-formalised Risk Management practice in the industry under assessment. It reveals the absence of a uniform regulatory authority. It presents an acceptance of Risk Management as a viable solution to achieving quality projects of value and performance. Based on this paper’s findings, a justified case is made for a more formal, consistent and participatory Risk Management process in the Nigerian construction industry. In making this case, this paper posit that if applied, the industry will experience the delivery of much improved projects of value, quality and performance.
Keywords: Project Management, Risk Management, construction project, construction risk, project value/quality, survey respondents