Previous research works on the integration of e-Procurement technologies in the construction process in Nigeria showed that it has been slow and low. However, there are few empirical studies on the duration for which it has permeated the construction industry, the actual proponents and the metrics that can engender successful integration of e-Procurement technologies, applications, and tools in the construction procurement process, especially in a developing country like Nigeria. The study was aimed at evaluating the critical success factors (CSFs) for e-Procurement adoption in the Nigerian construction industry. The study was carried out in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria using a survey research design. Construction stakeholders were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. A total of 1092 questionnaires were retrieved in this study, but the data of 759 actual users of e-Procurement systems were analyzed in this study using descriptive statistics and principal component analysis (PCA). An assessment of the duration users have been participating in the e-Procurement environment revealed that most Quantity Surveyors have been exposed to the use of e-Procurement technologies for over 10 years. A large proportion of the construction stakeholders picked up the use of the technology within the last 5 years. Further analysis showed that contracting firms have the largest participation in the use of e-Procurement systems. The study also revealed that construction stakeholders perceived the availability of reliable, affordable, and fast Internet services as the most critical success factor for the adoption of e-Procurement technologies. The critical success factors (CSFs) were further classified into management support for physical infrastructure, and human factors and characteristics of the technology. The study showed that these critical success factors (CSFs) are crucial for the adoption of e-Procurement systems in the Nigerian construction industry. The study recommended that there is still a need for increased awareness of the e-Procurement tools and technologies and the benefits that are accrued from their use among public sector construction participants. This will in turn influence the provision of the required information and communication technology (ICT) physical infrastructure and formulation of appropriate policies and standards for successful e-Procurement integration in the Nigerian construction industry.

The use of electronic (e-­) procurement to support the execution of supply chain management activities in the different industrial sectors is permeating all regions of the world. However, in countries in sub-Saharan Africa where there is a significant level of corruption and unethical practices in the procurement process, there is a need for a better understanding of how e-Procurement can help to check the incidence of corrupt and unethical practices in construction project delivery. This study relied on a cross-sectional survey of 759 respondents, including architects, builders, engineers, estate/facilities managers, contractors, construction/project managers, quantity surveyors, supply chain managers and others to identify and analyse the anti-corruption capabilities of e-Procurement in construction project delivery in Nigeria. The results of the descriptive statistics, relative importance index and principal components analysis identified 18 anti-corruption capabilities in e-Procurement in construction project delivery with the three most important ones being the capability of e-Procurement to ensure good inventory management/record keeping; accountability by providing audit services trail and minimise direct human contacts during bidding. The key underlying dimensions of these capabilities include the advantage of e-Procurement over the traditional paper-based method; transparent bidding process and increase in competition in construction project delivery process. The findings of this study have implications, especially, on the use of e-Procurement to curb corruption in construction procurement activities.

As an interactive sustainable alternative to existing sustainable design practices, biophilic design struggles to promote the possibility of merging the built and natural environment. The study is aimed at assessing the extent to which biophilic design patterns influences skill development in order to suggest interactive sustainable alternatives. The study adopted a mixed method of research. Qualitative data were obtained via the review of relevant literature while quantitative data were obtained via the use of a structured questionnaire administered to 32 respondents in the study population. The respondents were selected from the users of purpose-built skill acquisition and development spaces in Minna, Niger state, to determine the level of satisfaction with the implementation of these patterns and considerations in skill acquisition and development space. The quantitative data was analysed with the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and the results presented descriptively with the use of tables. The findings suggest that most users were satisfied with patterns from nature in space patterns and natural analogue patterns relating to direct and indirect connection with natural systems.

As the emphasis on sustainability increases among architects and construction professionals, the various ways for achieving sustainability in physical development projects have continued to engage the attention of scholars and researchers across the globe. However, in the context of housing in a developing country like Nigeria, there is a paucity of empirical studies on the sustainability of public housing projects. Therefore, this study aimed at identifying and analyzing the sustainability features of public housing projects in urban areas of Ogun State, Nigeria. A survey of 517 residents in nine public housing estates was conducted between December 2009 and February 2010 in the study area. With the aid of structured questionnaire, interview guide and observation schedule; data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analyses. Findings show that public housing projects in the study area were evaluated to be sustainable in terms of affordability and building forms responding to site and climatic conditions. The projects were however found to be unsustainable in the use of asbestos-based materials, inadequate provision of domestic spaces and lack of basic social infrastructural facilities. The paper concludes that to achieve sustainability in public housing in Nigeria, there is a need for public housing developers to pay adequate attention to users’ domestic space and basic social infrastructural facilities need in the design, construction and management of housing projects. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s2p523

The issues associated with housing are colossal and multifaceted, displaying clear and concise differences in various parts of the world. As is the case of most urban environments, the problem of housing can no longer be limited to the quantity of houses available, it should also include the quality and the location of these housing units. As a result, this study intends to assess the different sustainability concepts adopted in the planning, design and construction of public Housing in Ogun State. The objectives of the study were to, evaluate the physical characteristics and conditions of the housing units, examine the socio-economic characteristics of the residents, and determine factors which affect the level of satisfaction of the residents. 274 housing units were assessed, from four public housing estates in the state, between the months of December, 2018 and February, 2019. Data was gathered by administration of questionnaires as well as interviews to household heads. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential techniques. The result of study highlighted that the housing estates were assessed to be sustainable as regards the housing density of the units and the affordability levels, however the estates were deemed unsustainable based on type of building materials used, proximity to basic amenities, and non-existence of communal facilities. The study concluded that relevant agencies as regards housing in the state, should focus on the provision and maintenance of public facilities so as to improve resident’s satisfaction and also make use of adaptable spaces when designing houses, so as to cater for unexpected growth in the family and improve quality of life of the occupants.

Bus terminals in Lagos, Nigeria, have become not just transport interchange hubs but also heavy commercial zones. However, the inclusion of commercial activities such as kiosks, vending, retail stands, and informal trading often compromises the efficiency of circulation if poorly implemented. In this paper, commercial activity integration within the bus terminal, as well as the resulting impacts on circulation efficiency, are evaluated in three purposively selected terminals in Lagos, namely Oyingbo, Ikeja, and Oshodi. A mixed-methods evaluative framework was used, involving systematic observation of the sites under study, structured surveys (n = 136), semi-structured interview sessions with vendors (n = 20), spatial analysis, and comparative case studies of best practices from abroad. The results show that terminals featuring clearly defined commercial zones along with pedestrian passages reported much greater levels of user satisfaction with the quality of circulation. The rate of positive circulation assessment at Ikeja was 61.3%, while that of satisfaction with journey smoothness at Oyingbo reached 63.7%. Conversely, the congested commercial areas at Oshodi produced a 46.9% dissatisfaction with the quality of circulation. Informal commercial activity led to reduced passage widths, increased conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles, and lower spatial legibility.