Sustainability in the Nigerian Built Environment - A Scoping Study Review

Abstract

Sustainability is not new concept; however, it has received increased attention because of the effects of anthropogenic activity in varied sectors of life. The built environment is one of such sectors, which is often criticized for its effects and as evident in literature, sustainability in the built environment is complex in nature. As such, the interpretations associated with it, the significance attributed to it and its adoption, are diverse in every country. Sustainability in the built environment is important, as it promotes energy friendly and efficient systems in buildings, especially in light of global climate change. However, this appears to be lacking in the Nigerian built environment. The paper aims to examine impeding factors to sustainability in the Nigerian built environment through a scoping study review. Nigeria is often described as a paradox in many ways, one of which is having a power deficit and yet abundant renewable energy sources. The paper presents a comprehensive survey of relevant literature on the perceptions of built environment professionals in Nigeria for identification of impeding factors to sustainability adoption. While impeding factors to sustainability in the Nigerian built environment is not new, the identification and understanding of the factors remains restricted and shallow. As such, it lags the required uptake for sustainable buildings reflective in other countries. In addition, a comprehensive survey of impeding factors to sustainability in the Nigerian built environment is lacking in literature, to the best of the researcher’s knowledge. The paper aims to fill this gap through a scoping review, underpinned by Daudt et al.'s (2013) adapted version of Arksey and O ’Malley's (2005) five stage framework. The main findings suggest that the Nigerian context have not been holistically embraced in existing studies, highlighting generalised impeding
factors such as finance and awareness as top ranking factors. Furthermore, the review addresses concerns associated with the existing research approach and its shortcomings, as well as strategies for improvement. Further research to expand knowledge is also recommended.