Journal of Sustainable Infrastructure
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): Sustainable Infrastructure Breakthroughs: From Concrete to Circularity

Revolutionizing Nigeria's Construction Sector: A Resilient Circular Economy Framework for Sustainable Urban Development

Unegbu, Hyginus (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
07 Nov 2025

Abstract

The adoption of circular economy (CE) practices is essential for fostering sustainability in the construction sector, particularly in developing economies like Nigeria. This study investigates the barriers, opportunities, and strategies for advancing CE adoption in Nigeria’s construction industry. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys of 285 construction firms, semi-structured interviews with 40 stakeholders, and system dynamics modeling to evaluate policy scenarios. The findings reveal a low adoption rate of CE principles (18%), with large firms (42%) significantly outpacing SMEs (9%). Urban areas showed higher adoption rates (26%) compared to rural regions (12%), attributed to better access to infrastructure, market-driven incentives, and regulatory enforcement. Key barriers include high financial costs, regulatory gaps, and limited access to advanced technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM). Opportunities for accelerating CE adoption were identified, including public-private partnerships (PPPs) to bridge financial and technical gaps, increasing demand for sustainable practices from multinational clients, and integrating CE principles into educational curricula to address skill shortages. System dynamics modeling demonstrated that high policy interventions—combining financial incentives, regulatory reforms, and capacity-building initiatives—could achieve a 60% reduction in construction waste and a 40% improvement in resource efficiency by 2035. This study underscores the need for comprehensive policies, collaborative initiatives, and educational reforms to enable Nigeria’s transition to a sustainable construction sector. By aligning national strategies with global sustainability goals, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nigeria can position itself as a regional leader in sustainable construction.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jsi

Publisher

Subject

Civil Engineering, Building, Construction & Architecture Engineering Environmental Science

Description

The Journal of Sustainable Infrastructure (JSI) accepts research articles from researchers, lecturers, students, and practitioners in English and Indonesian, which have never been published in other media. JSI focuses on research and design for infrastructure development applications to achieve ...