Assessment of Value Management in Public-Private Housing Projects: A Case Study of Lagos, Nigeria

Thesis Abstract

The study addresses the persistent underperformance of value delivery in public-private housing projects in Lagos, Nigeria, where project outcomes often fail to meet cost, quality, time, and stakeholder value expectations due to fragmented governance, inadequate value management (VM) adoption, and limited visibility of lifecycle costs. The aim is to assess how VM practices influence cost efficiency, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction within Lagos’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) housing initiatives. Specific objectives include (1) to evaluate the extent of VM adoption in PPP housing projects; (2) to examine the relationship between VM practices and project cost performance; (3) to assess the impact of VM on quality, functional efficiency, and durability; (4) to identify drivers and barriers to VM implementation; and (5) to develop a context-specific VM framework for Lagos PPP housing. The study is underpinned by the Value Management theory and the Contingency theory, complemented by the Transaction Cost Economics perspective to explain governance arrangements. A mixed-methods approach is employed. The population comprises stakeholders involved in Lagos PPP housing programs, including developers, contractors, clients, consultants, and government agencies. A multi-stage sampling strategy yields a total of 180 respondents for quantitative analysis and 20 in-depth interviews for qualitative insights. Data collection instruments include a structured questionnaire validated for reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89) and semi-structured interview guides. Quantitative data are analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression to test the hypotheses that comprehensive VM adoption positively affects cost performance (R2 > 0.25, p < 0.05) and quality outcomes, controlling for project size and procurement mode. The qualitative data are subjected to thematic analysis to elucidate drivers, barriers, and contextual nuances of VM implementation, with triangulation employed to enhance validity. Expected findings indicate that Lagos PPP housing projects with formal VM processes exhibit statistically significant improvements in schedule adherence, cost predictability, and stakeholder satisfaction relative to projects with limited VM activities. The research anticipates identifying critical success factors for VM, including early VM planning during feasibility, cross-disciplinary value teams, client-led value brief development, robust life-cycle costing, and continuous value reviews aligned with PPP governance structures. The study contributes to knowledge by (a) generating context-specific evidence on VM effectiveness within African PPP housing, (b) articulating a validated VM framework tailored to Lagos’s procurement and governance environment, and (c) informing policy on integrating VM into standard PPP project delivery processes. The conclusion is expected to advocate for mandatory VM incorporation in the Lagos PPP housing policy, supported by standardized templates for value briefs, lifecycle costing, and post-occupancy value monitoring. Recommendations include (i) institutionalizing a Value Management Office within the Lagos State PPP Office, (ii) developing capacity-building programs for practitioners and public sector officials, (iii) embedding VM into bid evaluation and contract management, (iv) establishing performance metrics for value delivery across stages, and (v) pursuing longitudinal studies to track VM impacts on social housing outcomes. Overall, the study aims to advance theoretical understanding of VM in developing-country PPP housing while delivering practical, scalable guidance for improving value realization in Lagos’s housing sector.