Appraisal of the Impact of Delay in Payment of Compensation on Project Delivery in Affa- Umulumgbe Road Project, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the impact of delayed compensation on project delivery in the context of compulsory land acquisition for the Affa–Umulumgbe road construction project in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study aims to appraise how delays in compensation payments affect project delivery, identify the factors responsible for such delays, and propose measures to ensure adequate and timely compensation to affected landowners in the afore mentioned communities. Although the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Land Use Act of 1978 guarantee prompt and adequate compensation, significant gaps persist between statutory provisions and implementation. Adopting a mixed-methods design, the study drew on a population of 256 affected persons and employed a stratified sampling technique that combined purposive and simple random sampling to ensure adequate representation of key stakeholder groups and enhance data reliability. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyse and present data in line with the mixed-methods approach. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews with displaced landowners, community leaders, and government officials, while quantitative analysis focused on compensation timelines and project performance indicators. Findings reveal that bureaucratic inefficiencies, politicised valuation processes, and weak institutional accountability mechanisms are the principal drivers of delay. These delays adversely affect livelihoods, increase project costs, prolong completion timelines, and erode trust between communities and the state. The study recommends decentralised valuation committees, enforceable statutory payment deadlines, and transparent monitoring systems to align infrastructure development with constitutional guarantees and the rights of affected communities.