The Influence of Procurement Planning On the Performance of Public Infrastructure Projects in Jos, Plateau State

This study assessed procurement planning practices, challenges, and improvement strategies in public infrastructure projects in Jos, Plateau State, and examined their implications for project performance. Despite public procurement reforms, infrastructure projects in Nigeria continue to suffer cost overruns, delays, and quality deficiencies. Using a quantitative design, structured questionnaires were administered to 141 procurement professionals, engineers, and project managers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, reliability testing, and multiple regression. The constructs demonstrated good to excellent internal reliability (Cronbach’s alpha: Key Elements = 0.831; Challenges = 0.898; Strategies = 0.814). Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between key planning elements and strategy adoption (r = 0.419, p < 0.01). Multiple regression showed that key planning elements and challenges jointly explained 21.6% of the variance in strategy adoption (R² = 0.216, F = 18.98, p < 0.001). Key elements emerged as the strongest predictor (β = 0.426, p < 0.001), while challenges also showed a significant positive effect (β = 0.201, p = 0.009). The study was limited by the absence of direct project performance measures in the instrument, which prevented empirical testing of the performance relationship. Nevertheless, the findings provide evidence-based insights into the planning conditions that shape infrastructure delivery in Jos, and offer a validated framework for future research linking these antecedents to cost, time, and quality outcomes.