This study evaluates the relationships among internal stakeholders in the Nigerian construction industry. The objectives are to evaluate the factors influencing good working relationships, with priority placed on relationship indicators and variation in effect/priority among groups of relationships. A survey of 95 purposively sampled stakeholders resulted in 72 valid structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using mean score and KruskalÀWallis tests. The study concludes that unitary relationships are more associated with professionals; coercive relationships more associated with contractors; while mutuality relationships are least prevalent. The influence of factors promoting/hindering good relationships do not significantly vary among the internal stakeholders (p-values D 0.665 and 0.468), while significant variation exists in the priority placed on relationship-oriented indicators (p-value D 0.015). The study recommends encouragement of mutual relationships, clear/regular communication, trust/respect for contractual conditions, cooperation/collaboration, adequate job descriptions and good job attitudes. Priority should be placed on seamless/collaborative operation, collective understanding and gain/pain-sharing, which encourage team integration.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the state of sustainable facilities management (FM) practice in Nigeria particularly, as it relates to the sustainability policy and key drivers for sustainable FM practice among corporate organisations in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – The paper relied on data derived from a survey of 58 respondents (facilities managers and other top managers who have FM portfolios) representing 58 corporate organisations registered with Nigeria’s corporate affairs commission and interview sections in a case-study setting with three interviewees representing three corporate establishments in Nigeria. Findings – Findings identified health and safety, waste management and flexible working environment as the three main sustainability policy directions, in that order, while sustainability policy on biodiversity, urbanisation and forestation were the three least rated. Furthermore, the key drivers for sustainable FM practice are corporate image, job creation and waste reduction. Others are enhancing relation with stakeholders and reduction in energy consumption. Originality/value – This paper provides empirical evidence on the state of sustainable FM practice in Nigeria as a way of contributing to the much needed body of knowledge on sustainability in general and sustainable FM practice in particular.

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of accelerator (NaNO3) on the strength properties of High volume Periwinkle shell ash blended cement concrete. A mix ratio and water-binder ratio of 1:2:4 (cement: sand: gravel) and 0.60, respectively was used as the reference. The cement was then replaced with 30% Periwinkle Shell Ash (PSA) by weight of cement. Sodium nitrate in the dosages of 1, 2, and 3% by weight of cement was added to the blended mixture of cement and PSA. The strength properties investigated were compressive and splitting tensile strength tested at 7, 14 and 28 days hydration. The results indicated that the compressive strength and the splitting tensile strength generally increases with curing age, and that sodium nitrate of up to 2% dosage greatly improved the strength performance of high volume PSA blended cement concrete over that of the reference. The study concluded that the inclusion of 2% sodium nitrate by weight of cement in the mixture could be considered the optimum dosage for the improvement of both compressive and splitting tensile strength of concrete incorporating up to 30% PSA content.

PurposeBuilding information modelling (BIM) has been established in the literature as a successful platform that creates an intelligent virtual model for processing data from conceptual design through construction to operational stage of a facility. However, its adoption for facilities management (FM) provision in Nigeria has been slow due to inherent barriers. The aim of this paper is to (1) assess and categorise using factor analysis BIM for FM barriers and (2) model the barriers using stakeholders' personal/professional attributes.Design/methodology/approachAnchored on quantitative research design, 205 copies of structured questionnaire were distributed to key stakeholders and facilities managers in Nigeria's three strategic cities while 135 valid responses were received giving a response rate of 65.8%. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics while multiple regression analysis was used to model the barriers. Kruskal Wallis test was used to test the only hypothesis postulated for the study.FindingsThe study established lack of awareness of BIM for FM, poor supporting infrastructure for Internet services, and lack of education and training as the top three rated barriers militating against adoption of BIM for FM in Nigeria while corruption, widespread mistakes and errors and cultural issues were established as the three least rated barriers. Besides, findings also established eight underlying factors that explained 23 barrier factors used for the study which were subsequently used to develop eight regression models. In effect, gender, professional affiliation, organisation, experience, education, expertise, BIM for FM project type, and location were found to statistically predict the 8 extracted factors driving perceived barriers of BIM for FM adoption in Nigeria.Practical implicationsThe study has provided a framework of barrier factors to help stakeholders identify specific barriers for which appropriate measures can be taken to ameliorate consequences of the perceived barriers. Meanwhile, an improved and rejuvenated advocacy on inherent benefits of BIM for facilities management by frontline stakeholders could potentially steer up interests and increased participation of stakeholders on BIM for FM.Originality/valueThe unique study developed the first ever regression model that links BIM for FM barriers to professional attributes of facilities management stakeholders in Nigeria.

This paper examined the drivers of corporate social responsibility within construction organisations in Nigeria. The objectives were to determine the critical factors driving corporate social responsibility implementation in Nigeria and to examine the level of its uptake. It involved a semistructured interview conducted on 36 respondents. The sample include 4 key accountable persons in four constructions firms in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria; 16 employees comprising four from each firm and 16 community stakeholders in which these firms had executed projects in the past six years. Qualitative data collected were sorted and interpreted. The need to mitigate community stakeholder's risk; government push, competitive advantage and diverting attention of key stakeholders are the key drivers of corporate social responsibility among construction organisations in Nigeria. There is also a wide uptake of corporate social responsibility although with limited implementation in key areas in the social and environmental agendas. Constructions organisations need be innovative in their implementation policy while exploring ways to improve on the agendas where there are lapses in order to be social responsible organisations. The study provides an understanding of the most critical barrier to creating a safe commercial environment devoid of stakeholders' opposition.

This study evaluates the nature and influence of contractual claims on the performance of traditional construction projects in Nigeria. The objectives are to evaluate frequency of occurrence, magnitude, as well as influence of factors on claims, influence of claims on cost, time and quality and importance of claims' mitigation strategies. The study purposively sampled 72 contractors, 66 professionals and 45 clients using a questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using Likert scale, severity index, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The results show that extra-work, change orders and delay/extension claims are most frequent. Average estimated claim values vary between 6.9% and 30.7% of bid price. Stakeholders have similar view of frequency of occurrence and magnitude of claims (p-values = 0.826 and 0.972 > 0.05). There is a difference in the effect of factors between owners' and contractors' claims (p-value=0.001<0.05), while the influence of contractual claims does not vary among cost, time and quality (p-value=0.691>0.05). The study recommends that stakeholders should avoid claims, by placing priority on the factors with high significance. Stakeholders should adopt the identified mitigation strategies, with emphasis on holding periodic progress reviews and inspections, as well as reading and understanding the contract documents.

This study evaluated the site characteristics influencing the time and cost delivery of building projects, determined the range of percentage cost and time overrun and developed a neural network model for predicting the percentage cost and time overrun using the site characteristics of building projects. The study evaluated twelve site characteristics and two performance indicators obtained from records of construction costs, contract documents, and valuation reports of 126 purposively sampled building projects spread across several cities in Nigeria. Analyses were with descriptive and artificial neural network. It was concluded that with fairly favourable site characteristics, cost overrun range reached 77.95% with a mean variation of 44.36%, while time overrun range reached 51.23% with a mean variation of 26.77%. It was found that the accuracy performance levels of 91.93% and 91.43% for the cost and time overrun predictions respectively were very high for the optimum models. Building projects have eight significant site characteristics which can be used to reliably predict the percentage overrun, among which the ground water level, level of available infrastructure and labour proximity around the site are the most important predictors of cost and time overrun. The study recommended that project owners, consultants, contractors and other stakeholders should always use the eight identified site characteristics in predicting percentage cost and time overrun, with more priority on the first three characteristics. The study also recommended the neural network prediction approach due to its prediction accuracy.

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