Poor Stakeholder Management Driving Nigeria’s Project Failures, CIPMN Warns

The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has raised concerns over the persistent failure and abandonment of projects across the country, blaming the trend largely on poor stakeholder engagement and weak strategic leadership.

Speaking at the commencement of its three-day 2026 induction programme, CIPMN Registrar-General, Mr Henry Mbadiwe, said project managers must move beyond conventional project execution methods and embrace strategic leadership capable of navigating Nigeria’s increasingly complex stakeholder environment.

Mbadiwe, who spoke on the theme: “Strategic Project Leadership in Complex Stakeholders’ Environment: The Nigerian Context,” said the challenge facing project delivery in Nigeria goes far beyond technical competence, stressing that many projects collapse because managers fail to understand and effectively engage the diverse interests that shape project outcomes.

According to him, Nigeria’s project landscape is characterised by intricate socio-cultural dynamics, regulatory hurdles, political interests and community expectations, all of which require a more sophisticated leadership approach.

“Strategic project leadership in Nigeria requires navigating a highly dynamic environment shaped by diverse socio-cultural nuances, regulatory complexities and multi-layered community interests. Success hinges on transitioning from traditional, rigid task management to visionary leadership that actively builds consensus, anticipates risks and aligns project goals with local realities,” he said.

The CIPMN boss noted that project managers operating in critical sectors such as infrastructure, technology, energy and oil and gas are often confronted with a complicated web of formal authorities and informal influence structures that can determine the success or failure of projects.

“Managing projects in Nigeria, whether in infrastructure, technology or oil and gas, means navigating a dense matrix of formal authorities and informal power structures. Failing to engage these diverse factions actively is a primary driver behind the country’s high rate of abandoned and delayed projects,” Mbadiwe warned.

His remarks come amid growing concerns about the large number of stalled public and private-sector projects across Nigeria, many of which have consumed significant resources without delivering the expected benefits.

Mbadiwe argued that the evolving development landscape demands a new generation of project leaders equipped not only with technical expertise but also with the strategic insight required to manage competing interests, build trust among stakeholders and ensure sustainable project outcomes.

“In an era marked by increasing stakeholder complexity, evolving development priorities and heightened expectations for accountability, project leaders must possess not only technical expertise but also the strategic insight required to navigate diverse interests and deliver sustainable results,” he said.

He added that successful project execution in Nigeria requires leaders to align implementation strategies with the country’s unique socio-political, cultural and economic realities rather than relying solely on global project management models.

Reaffirming the institute’s regulatory mandate, Mbadiwe said CIPMN, established under Act No. 3 of 2018 and Gazette No. 15, Vol. 105, remains committed to regulating, certifying, licensing and supervising project management practice in Nigeria.

He said the institute’s broader objective is to deepen professionalism in project management and strengthen project delivery standards across both public and private sectors.

“Our vision is to build a more sustainable future for Nigeria through the professionalisation of project management, while our mission remains focused on creating an environment that advances project management practices and activities across the nation,” he added.

The three-day programme is expected to conclude with the induction of new members on Thursday, 25 June 2026, marking the formal entry of a new cadre of certified project managers into the profession.