IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE OF BUILDING PROJECTS IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed the implementation of sustainable construction practice (SCP) of building projects in south-south Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of the study, the study examined the level of awareness of the concept of sustainable construction practice and the level of implementation of sustainable construction practice in the study area. Also, considered was the relationship between the level of awareness and the level of implementation of SCP. The study adopted a questionnaire survey method distributed to construction professionals in the study area. A total of 327 questionnaires copies were distributed and 217 completed responses were received. Questionnaire was administered through online services. Data collected were analysed using frequency distribution, percentage, mean score, relative importance index and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. The result shows that the level of awareness of the concept of concept of sustainable construction was quite high with average mean of 3.51. The level of implementation of sustainable construction practice
in the study area was reported as poor with an average mean of 2.63. Using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient to test the hypothesis of the relationship between the level of awareness and the level of implementation of SCP, the null hypothesis having a pvalue .677 above 0.05 was not rejected. This indicates that there is no significant relationship between the level of awareness of the concept of sustainable construction practice and the level of implementation in the study area. The study therefore concludes that despite the high level of the awareness of the concept of sustainable construction practice in the study area, the level of implementation of sustainable construction practice has not received the deserving attention that it deserves. The study recommends that all stakeholders in the construction industry need to understand the importance of sustainable construction practice and implement it throughout all the phases of construction projects. The study further recommends the necessity for a paradigm shift in construction practices, moving beyond conventional approaches to adopt a more holistic, sustainable methodology that combines the best of traditional and modern techniques.

Keywords: Construction Industry, Construction Projects, Implementation, Sustainability, Sustainable Construction