Project Management Practices and the Effectiveness of Polio Emergency Operations Centres in Nigeria: Evidence from Damaturu, Yobe State.

Polio eradication remains one of the most critical public health priorities in Nigeria despite significant improvements in immunization coverage and disease surveillance over the past decade. The effectiveness of Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) in coordinating eradication campaigns has increasingly been linked to the adoption of structured project management (PM) practices. This study examined the impact of project management practices on the effectiveness of polio EOC in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria. The study adopted a qualitative case study design guided by the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®), Systems Thinking Theory, Agile Project Management, and Stakeholder Theory. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five purposively selected EOC personnel comprising public health specialists, logistics coordinators, monitoring and evaluation officers, and community engagement officers. Thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-step framework was used to analyse the data.
The findings revealed that hybrid PM approaches integrating PMBOK® structure, Agile adaptability, and Systems Thinking significantly improved operational coordination, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and responsiveness to logistical and security challenges. The study further established that digital innovations, adaptive microplanning, and participatory stakeholder engagement contributed substantially to vaccination coverage and campaign effectiveness. However, challenges such as inconsistent PM frameworks, inadequate digital infrastructure, donor dependency, weak institutionalisation of PM roles, and insecurity continued to hinder sustainability. The study concludes that institutionalising context-sensitive hybrid PM frameworks, strengthening local capacity building, and integrating digital systems into public health governance are essential for sustaining polio eradication efforts in Nigeria and similar fragile environments.

Project Management, Polio Eradication, Emergency Operations Centres

1. An, S., Ramsey, T., & Oloruntoba, R. (2023). Stakeholder engagement and project coordination in public health emergencies. International Journal of Project Management, 41(4), 311–325. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Anwar, M., Ibrahim, S., & Bello, U. (2024). Qualitative interviewing approaches in public health project management research. Health Research Methodology Journal, 15(2), 88–102. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2023). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. Sage Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Chenge, M. F. (2024). Adaptive leadership and health emergency coordination in Africa. African Journal of Public Health Management, 18(1), 44–58. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Davies, R., & Hall, J. (2023). Project management methodologies in emergency health interventions: Lessons from sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Health Systems and Policy, 12(3), 201–219. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Fieldhouse, P. (2023). Systems thinking and resilience planning in public health interventions. Global Health Governance Review, 9(2), 77–93. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Pitman. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Gidado, S., Lawan, M., & Ahmed, H. (2023). Digital innovation and immunisation campaign effectiveness in northern Nigeria. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1456–1470. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Lawal, A. (2023). Project management practices and emergency response systems in northeastern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Public Administration and Health, 7(1), 33–51. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Lindsay, C., & Aitken, A. (2024). Lean logistics and vaccine distribution systems in low-resource settings. International Journal of Health Logistics, 6(1), 19–34. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. McKee, A. (2021). Digital project management systems and immunisation outcomes in Nigeria. Global Public Health Review, 14(5), 455–470. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Michie, S., van Stralen, M., & West, R. (2011). The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implementation Science, 6(42), 1–12. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. PMI. (2021). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (7th ed.). Project Management Institute. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Príncipe, P., Mendes, R., & Silva, T. (2023). Agile methodologies in public health emergency management. Project Leadership and Society, 4, 100071. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson Education. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Turner, J. R., & Müller, R. (2019). Project governance and public sector programme management. International Journal of Project Management, 37(8), 1011–1024. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Umeh, C., Obadare, E., & Sylvester, P. (2020). Challenges of project management implementation in Nigeria’s public health sector. African Journal of Health Policy, 11(2), 65–81. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Varajão, J., Almeida, R., & Silva, P. (2024). PMBOK® implementation and organisational effectiveness in public sector projects. Project Management Journal, 55(1), 72–88. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. World Health Organization. (2021). Nigeria maintains polio-free status after wild poliovirus eradication. World Health Organization. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. World Health Organization. (2022). Strengthening health information systems in Africa. World Health Organization. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Zada, M., Ahmed, Y., & Yusuf, B. (2023). Project management and disease eradication initiatives in developing countries. International Journal of Health Project Management, 10(3), 145–161. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Project Management Approaches to Improving Educational Outcomes in Public Schools: A Study of Selected Public Schools in Lagos State
• A Conceptual Framework for Construction Delay Management Integrating Project and Weather Factors