Sustainable project management in urban development projects: a case study of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Project, Rivers State, Nigeria

Sustainable urban development is fundamental to future generations as it determines the sustainability of cities and urban infrastructures. The project considers sustainable management of ongoing urban development in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Urban areas are the future for humanity; therefore, sustainable measures must be taken to deliver such projects. The strategy is a convoluted phenomenon that is dependent on several other intricate developmental approaches like urban renewal and urban regeneration. The strategies are centred on appropriate resource utilisation to benefit critical functional elements of urban infrastructures like transport, housing, health services, water supply, roads and education. The advocacy is that holistic sustainability principles are integrated into designing, planning, executing and managing urban development projects. The approach will significantly reduce the impact of urban decay and unsustainable urban development, which is a common feature across African cities. This research was aimed at developing a sustainability framework for the Greater Port Harcourt City Development project in Rivers State, Nigeria. To achieve this aim; the objectives were to investigate, identify and examine the factors hindering the sustainability of the projects. The research strategy adopted was qualitative; data was derived from ‘semi-structured interviews with 52 stakeholders, non-participant observations of project sites, and document analyses of project reports. Thematic analysis was used to categorise and constructively interpret the data, and they emerged with different themes. The findings of the study revealed 16 themes that comprise of varied multi-level stakeholders’ issues; including lack of communication and stakeholder’s consultation, political instability, lack of continuity in government, lack of standardised project design and initiative, social deprivation and many others. The themes were critically analysed, and it enabled the development of an adaptable model for the urban development project. Successful application of the Sustainable Urban Development Model will ensure the viability of the project, incorporate stakeholders’ perspectives at each phase, and mandate compulsory adoption of project management methodologies in urban development projects. These will foster sustainability in the Greater Port Harcourt City Development, and other similar projects in Africa.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Greenwich

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Jack, Molly Williamson

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Coles, Anne-Marie
• Piterou, Aleksandar

• HD Industries. Land use. Labor

Language dc:language

en