Measures for overcoming sustainable construction barriers in the Nigerian construction industry

Abstract This study examines the barriers to implementing sustainable construction practices in Nigeria, focusing on organizational culture, availability of sustainable technologies, stakeholder engagement, financial constraints, and government regulations. It identifies and contextualizes unique challenges specific to Nigeria’s socio-economic and regulatory landscape, offering insights that extend the global understanding of sustainable construction barriers. By employing a mixed-methods approach, this research incorporates a comprehensive literature review and a cross-sectional survey of 237 construction professionals, including project managers, engineers, and policymakers. Quantitative data analysis using SPSS and LISREL revealed that weak regulatory frameworks and high initial costs of sustainable materials and technologies are significant barriers to sustainability adoption. Organizational culture also emerged as a critical determinant, with firms prioritizing internal sustainability being more likely to adopt sustainable practices. The novel contributions of this study include practical, context-specific recommendations for overcoming these barriers, such as enhancing regulatory enforcement, promoting innovative financing mechanisms, and fostering collaborative stakeholder engagement. The findings offer targeted solutions that policymakers and construction firms can adopt to promote sustainability, providing a roadmap for advancing sustainable construction in developing economies.