APPRAISING CLIENTS’ ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Sustainable construction has become a global priority for achieving environmental protection, economic efficiency, and social well-being in the built environment. In Nigeria, the extent to which clients adopt sustainable construction practices remains limited despite growing awareness of its benefits. This study appraises clients’ adoption of sustainable construction practices in Nigeria, focusing on private-sector clients in Abuja. Clients, as project initiators and financiers, play a decisive role in determining whether sustainability measures are implemented. Using a descriptive quantitative survey, data were collected from 51 private clients comprising real estate investors, corporate developers, and individual sponsors through structured questionnaires. The analysis employed descriptive statistics and mean item ranking to evaluate awareness, barriers, and enabling factors. Findings show that while 80% of respondents had participated in projects with sustainable features, the level of consistent adoption remains low. Real estate investors showed the highest exposure and adoption rates, while individual sponsors were least engaged. Major barriers include high initial costs, weak enforcement of sustainability policies, and limited access to affordable financing. Awareness of advanced tools like BIM and certification systems was moderate, indicating technical knowledge gaps. The most significant enablers identified were affordable green materials, education and training, and stricter policy enforcement.