The frequent and persistent abandonment of construction projects in Nigeria has become a significant concern, leading to negative impacts on real property values, project owners, residents, the built environment, and the economy at large. Many construction projects remain uncompleted or are outrightly abandoned, raising concerns among stakeholders in both public and private sectors, including project managers and scholars. Project abandonment has resulted in severe consequences, such as financial losses, environmental degradation, and, in some cases, loss of lives and properties. This study aims to demonstrate how SWOT analysis a strategic planning tool used to evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats can be employed to mitigate project abandonment. The study utilized primary data collected through structured questionnaires distributed to a population of 100 staff members from the Ministries of Works and Housing in Abuja and Awka, specifically within the Engineering and Survey Departments. Given the manageable size of the population, a census approach was adopted. Respondents rated various factors on a 5-point Likert scale. Findings revealed that the major causes of project abandonment include payment remittance delays, inadequate funding, leadership instability, investor/client death, inconsistent government policies, and poor project planning and design. However, the study also found that SWOT analysis significantly aids project managers in planning and risk evaluation at both the initiation and mid-point stages of a project. The study recommends that project managers integrate SWOT analysis during the pre-planning and mid-project phases to enhance decision-making, mitigate risks, and ensure project completion according to specifications and good project management practices.
Keywords: Analysis, Construction, Project Management, SWOT, abandonment, risk evaluation.
