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A B S T R A C T

The performance of the construction industry in terms of meeting its objectives or goal has been invariably affected by risks, thereby leading to time and cost overruns. This research therefore assessed the risk identification and response techniques adopted on building projects in Rivers State, Nigeria with a view to enhancing projects performance in the study area. In achieving the aim of the study, primary data were collected through administration of questionnaires to 284 key construction stakeholders comprising the clients, consultants and contractors on completed public building projects in Rivers State, Nigeria. Out of the 284 questionnaires that were distributed, 158 were returned and found suitable for the analysis. Percentile was used for analyzing demographics of the respondents while mean item score was used for ranking of identified techniques. Kruskal Wallis H test was used for examining the differences in the sample means of different groups of respondents. The study revealed good level of awareness of the existing risk identification and response techniques. it was revealed from the study that utilization of
past experience, brainstorming and study of project documents were the most used risk identification techniques while the risk transfer, risk reduction and risk sharing were the most utilized response techniques in building projects. The study recommended that stakeholders should visit locations, consult experts and make reference to databases,
and historical data from similar projects during risk identification in order to complement the existing utilized techniques while diligently responding to construction risks in the order of transfer, reduction and avoidance were recommended consequent upon the effectiveness of these strategies.