Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the preference of office property users for green features in Lagos, Nigeria. This is with a view to determining the degree of users’ aspiration for green buildings in the country. Design/methodology/approach The study purposively sampled two office properties from the management portfolio of 88 registered estate firms in Lagos. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire on two users purposively selected from each of the properties. The data were analyzed with the use of frequency distribution, percentages and measures of the users’ preference index. Findings The results revealed that the preference for green features by office property users in the study area was above average (2.5 on a five-point scale). Feature relating to “building ecology, waste and recycling” is the most preferred feature with UPI of 3.970 while those relating to “owner and occupant education” with UPI of 3.558 were least in preference. Practical implications The paper concludes that with the preference of users for green features in the study area, it may be necessary for government to strengthen the existing framework for sustainable development. Also, increased sensitization of investors, users, professionals and other stakeholders in the building industry is pertinent to the success of green building practice in the country. Originality/value This is one of the few studies on users’ preference for green features in emerging economy, particularly in the Nigerian context.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which green building features are evident in office properties in Lagos, Nigeria; and consequently determine the degree of compliance with green standards in the country. Design/methodology/approach The study purposively sampled two (2) office properties from the management portfolio of 88 registered Estate firms in Lagos. Data were collected using physical observation on the properties and interview with two users purposively selected from each of the properties. The data were analysed with the use of frequency distribution, percentages and measures of green features availability index. Findings The result revealed a low extent of green features incorporation in existing office properties with the value of availability indices on most features falling below 2.5 on a five-point scale. Feature relating to material use and conservation is the most incorporated green feature (mean score of 2.62) while those relating to owner and occupant education were least in incorporation (mean score of 1.895). Practical implications From the findings, it is apparent that green retrofitting may be necessary in Nigeria due to the low extent of green practices in existing office properties. Also, reinforcement of existing government policies and increased sensitisation of stakeholders on impact of current building practices are pertinent to green building success in Nigeria. Originality/value Most existing studies of similar focus are based in the developed economies where stronger implementation framework exists for green building. Besides, they are mostly based on evaluation of green certified buildings using few criteria. This study differs in that it presents the existing building sustainability practices in a less pronounced green property market, with varying architectural styles using more robust criteria. Information provided is applicable in Nigeria and other emerging economies.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to investigate the degree of willingness of property developers to invest in green features in Abuja, the federal capital city of Nigeria, to determine the level of their preparedness for green building development. Design/methodology/approach -Data were elicited from the property managers of the various property development companies through self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with the use of frequency distribution, percentages and measures of developers' willingness to invest index. Findings -The study showed that the developers' level of willingness to invest in green features is above average with the value of willingness indices on most features rising above 2.5 on a five-point scale. Features that are less capital intensive such as "Location of air intake that are far from source of pollution" (RWI ¼ 4.14) and "Building design that utilize natural and cross ventilation" (RWI ¼ 4.12) attracted higher developers' level of willingness than features such as "Mechanical ventilation of enclosed parking area" (RWI ¼ 2.15) and "Design for energy efficient deconstruction and recycling" (RWI ¼ 1.84) that are more capital intensive. In addition, the index of willingness (relative willingness index of developers) on features that are associated with occupants' comfort is higher than the index of willingness on features that confer more of environmental benefits. Practical implications -The study concludes by advocating that parliamentary arms of all tiers of government should formulate environmental policies and laws that will entrench sustainable practices in the building industry in the country. Originality/value -This is one of the few studies on the willingness of major stakeholders to invest in green features, particularly in the Nigerian context.

This study examined the level of awareness, medium of awareness and the perceptions of office property users on Green building and their features in Lagos, Nigeria. The study sampled 352 office property users of 176 properties in the property portfolio of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Lagos. Data was collected with the use of questionnaire administration. Using frequency counts and measures of relative perception index, the study revealed that majority of the users were not aware of green building. Only 23.6% were aware, and the predominant medium of awareness among these few was the Television. It was also revealed in the result that most of the users perceive green building as more of an environmental concept costing more to build and operate. The study concluded that there is need for more sensitisation on green building. Also, a balance information spread, especially on the social and economic benefits of green building is important for successful implementation of green building in the study area.

The study investigated the level of awareness and aspiration of residents for smart building features in Lagos, Nigeria. This is with a view to determining the extent of residents’ level of familiarity and desire for smart homes in the country. Questionnaires were administered on 586 residents selected through systematic random sampling technique in the study area. Having identified the major streets in the study area, the first building along the major streets was selected randomly and every fifth building formed the subsequent unit of study. Data were analyzed with the use of frequency distribution, percentages, and measures of residents’ aspiration index. The results showed that the awareness of smart building technologies was just fair in the study area as almost half of the respondents (49.21%) were not aware of smart building features. The results also indicated that internet facility ranked highest as the medium of awareness for the residents who were aware of smart building features. It was revealed that the aspiration of the residents for smart features was above average (2.98 on a five-point scale). The results showed that the features mostly aspired were features relating to “security and safety” (CCTV, Intrusion detection system and fire detection and alarm), while those relating to building maintenance (Moisture and humidity sensor and building performance analytic devices) were the least category of smart features desired.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relative awareness and influence of stakeholders on sustainable residential property development in Lagos, Nigeria. This is with a view to identifying the key stakeholders pertinent to enhancing sustainable residential property development in the country. Design/methodology/approach Data on awareness and influence of stakeholders on decisions to adopt sustainable residential property were elicited from residential property users, building contractors, property investors, estate surveyors and valuers and government regulatory agencies in Lagos residential property sector. The data were collected by using a questionnaire and analysed using mean item score and analysis of variance. Findings The result showed that the government regulatory agencies and the building professionals were aware of sustainable buildings, as mean scores measuring their awareness were higher than 2.5 on a scale of 1–5. The level of awareness of users was, however, low (mean score of 2.39). The users and the government regulatory agencies were identified by the stakeholders as being most influential on their decisions to adopt sustainable residential property. Practical implications Findings from this study indicate that there is need to promote the users and government regulatory agencies’ activities on sustainable residential property development as the activities of these stakeholders have higher influence on sustainable residential property development decisions in the study area. Originality/value This study particularly examines the interrelationships between the activities of stakeholders in sustainable residential property development in Nigeria. This has not been adequately studied in extant literature.

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the contribution of cooperative societies to housing finance for the urban low income group in Ogbomoso, Oyo state of Nigeria. This is with a view to determine the effectiveness of the societies' lending as a means of solving the housing problem among the low income group in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaires were administered to 120 members of eight societies of four cooperative unions selected through a random sampling technique. In total, 15 members who had benefited from the loan were surveyed in each of the societies. Data were analysed with the use of frequency distribution, percentage and measure of cooperators satisfaction index (CSI).FindingsThe results showed that 52 per cent of responding members had financed the development of their houses to completion stage, while 28 per cent had their houses still under construction. The index of satisfaction (CSI) on each attribute of “affordability”, “transaction cost” and “collateral” is higher than the aggregate satisfaction on the loan. In addition, the level of satisfaction on a cooperative loan with a CSI of 3.77 is far above average (2.50) and greater than the level of satisfaction on National Housing Fund (CSI of 2.07), which is far below average. It was also discovered that membership of cooperative societies cuts across all occupations and is open to all interested members of the community irrespective of sexual or academic status.Practical implicationsThe paper concludes that, with the popularity and effectiveness of cooperative loans in the study area, the government should encourage and integrate the initiative to evolve an efficient and effective national housing policy.Originality/valueThis is one of the few studies on housing development finance conducted through a non‐institutional source, particularly in the Nigerian context.