Omopariola, E D; Olanrewaju, O I; Albert, I; Oke, A E and Ibiyemi, S B (2024) Sustainable construction in the Nigerian construction industry: Unsustainable practices, barriers and strategies. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 22(4), pp. 1158-1184. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: Sustainable construction practices are strongly correlated with a profitable and competitive construction industry, improved client satisfaction and efficient use of resources. However, due consideration is not being given to sustainable construction practices in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aims to identify the unsustainable construction practices on construction sites, the barriers to sustainable construction and possible strategies to improve sustainable construction in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire survey of 50 construction sites was conducted with construction professionals on the sites as the specific target, out of which only 43 construction sites have at least a construction professional present at the site. Forty-three filled questionnaires from the respondents were used for descriptive (mean score, standard deviation and charts) and inferential analysis (t-test and Kruskal–Wallis) in this study. Findings: The study shows that a large percentage (75%) of construction professionals in Nigeria are aware of sustainable construction. The descriptive and inferential analysis showed a disparity in the ranking of the 12 unsustainable practices, 14 barriers and 11 strategies among the respondents. Five unsustainable practices (“negative externalities”, “excess energy”, “unsustainable technologies”, “non-management of health and safety of workers” and “material waste”), six barriers to sustainable construction (“absence of historical data and exemplary projects on which construction professionals can build and learn from”, “lack of professional to handle the task”, “poverty and low urban investment”, “lack of urban and construction policy”, “lack of awareness” and “lack of technical know-how”) and three strategies to improve sustainable construction practices in Nigeria (“cooperation, partnership and participation”, “protection of biodiversity and conservation of natural resources” and “sustainability assessment system”) were found to be significant. Practical implications: The study offers significant insights into the construction industry unsustainable practices, barriers to sustainable construction, as well as strategies for improving sustainable construction practices. These insights can be applied to other developing countries with an emphasis on geographical differences. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the recent studies in Nigeria that explored the context of sustainable construction in the construction industry by providing insights into the unsustainable construction practices, barriers and strategies to improve sustainable construction in Nigeria.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | built environment; sustainability; sustainable construction; sustainable development; unsustainable practices |
| Index terms: | questionnaire, methodology, cooperation, sustainable construction practice, health and safety, sustainable construction, developing country, sustainability assessment, survey, sustainable development, strategy, construction site, built environment, client satisfaction, construction professional, conservation, construction industry, disparity, biodiversity, natural resource, Nigeria, partnership, poverty, deviation |
| Subjects: | client relations, data collection methods, financial and cost management, work location, environmental resource management, psychology, environmental policy, professional development, development economics, sustainable construction, health safety and environment, Geography, research methods, biodiversity, sustainability assessment, management, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, sociology, social justice, partnership management |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Information Management, Stakeholder Management, Sustainability, Urban Studies, Ethics, International Construction, Site Management, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here