Assessment of Project Management Practices and Sustainable Development of Oil Producing Communities: A tale of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

This study investigates how project management practices (PMP) influence the sustainable development of oil-producing communities in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. It explores the extent to which the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation dimensions of PMP contribute to environmental, economic, and social sustainability outcomes. A survey research design was employed using a structured questionnaire administered to 154 household heads drawn from a population of 250 in oil-producing communities. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including multiple linear regression, to assess the relationships between PMP constructs and dimensions of sustainable development. Results revealed a moderate level of project management practice, with Mean Index Scores (MIS) ranging from 2.14 to 2.44, indicating limited community engagement throughout project cycles. Regression analysis showed that only the implementation construct significantly influenced environmental (p = .025), economic (p = .003), and social (p = .004) dimensions of sustainability. The study is geographically limited to Ilaje, which may affect the generalizability of findings to other oil-producing regions. Further comparative studies across multiple localities are recommended to validate and extend these findings. The findings underscore the need for oil firms to institutionalize inclusive project management frameworks that prioritize stakeholder participation and community engagement, thereby promoting socio-economic advancement and environmental conservation in host communities.