Informal settlements, often characterized by inadequate infrastructure, housing, and services, are a significant urban challenge in the global South. Creating well-functioning and supportive neighborhoods within these settlements is crucial for improving the living conditions and livelihoods of those living there. This paper explores the strategies and principles of creating neighborhoods in informal settlements that promote community empowerment, social cohesion, and sustainable development. Conventional top-down development approaches often fail to address these settlements' unique needs and dynamics. In contrast, a bottom-up approach empowers residents, fosters community engagement, and promotes sustainable development. This paper explores how architecture can respond to the needs of informal dwellers and be used as a tool to empower them. Synthesizing architecture and informality through an understanding of the existing socio-spatial dynamics, culture, economic networks, insurgent practices, and approach to the production of the built form of informal settlement communities can produce a more responsive architecture capable of increasing informal settlement communities' resilience to site-specific challenges, improving their quality of life, and ultimately aiding them towards their hopes and aspirations. The theoretical framework combines the concepts of Culture, Insurgency, and the "Right to the City." The methodology included data collection using a combination of spatial mapping, observations, transect walks, and focused group interviews. The findings revealed the dynamics of the settlements, which could only be mapped and understood from firsthand experience of walking and learning from the community. The communities' needs and threats were mapped. This formed the basis for an architectural approach to stitch and create sustainable neighborhood design.
Urbanisation remains a topical discussion across the globe. According to the United Nations (2022), 68% of the world's population will be absorbed in urban areas by 2050. The envisaged rapid urbanisation in cities by 2050 is believed to be accompanied by various planning problems, which include accelerated climate change, urban slums, urban sprawl, poor sanitation, inadequate infrastructure, overcrowding, housing deficiency and transportation issues. To mitigate these planning problems, the role of effective urban planning cannot be overemphasised. Urban planning provides a pathway for overcoming the various challenges posed by urbanisation both in the present and in the future. Urban planning is the process of guiding and directing land use for physical development to ensure a high quality of life and well-being of residents through the improvement of infrastructures and facilities, optimal economic development, and efficient operations and services (Bibri, 2018). Also, urban planning plays a significant role in actualising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11, which seeks to make human settlement inclusive and sustainable (RELX, 2024). This implies that with efficient urban planning, access to a high quality of life for all city dwellers can be ensured amidst the present and forecast rapid urbanisation that would be experienced by cities of the world. Planning as an ancient, multi-sectoral, and multidisciplinary discipline that is focused on the sustainable functioning and arrangement of space cannot be over-emphasized. As a discipline that is influenced by human habits, actions, policies and professional practices, planning (whether traditional or modern) is perceptual and suggests the role of humans in shaping settlements. Recognising this, the writing of Jagannath (2019) drawing on Clarence Perry neighbourhood ideology suggests that the need for planning is to be considered along a micro-level. The liveability of workplace and place of resident emerged from the view that NP was both a response to placelessness (along the micro planning unit of space) and response to the degenerated social and environmental conditions that emerged out of the industrial revolution. Neighbourhood planning according to Parker (2012) allows for a community based radical strategy to emerging spatial problem. The writer documented that neighbourhood planning provides a room for the merging of formal (government and agencies) ideas with the local or informal (community resident), such that a cooperation is able to achieve an inclusive neighbourhood defined solution to identified problems. Recognising this, Bradley (2018) wrote that where development policy may privilege the supposed objectivity of technocratic rationalism, participation brings other ways of knowing and different types of evidence and methods of evidence gathering to the understanding of place (p.2). He further wrote that participatory planning practice has been seen as a touchstone for the ability of technocratic knowledge to accommodate lay perspectives of lived space. The incorporation of place-based knowledge in development planning becomes integral to the epistemology through which abstract space is produced (p.24). In this special issue, the diverse nature of planning (with focus on urban and neighbourhoods) and environmental problems were addressed. The authors in the special issue provided a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to understanding planning and in fact neighbourhood planning as a tool to managing and achieving liveability amidst rapid urbanisation. In this special issue, from the twenty-one submissions and proposals, only thirteen were considered for publication. All the manuscript underwent a two expert blind review, plagiarism check and editorial reviews. The focus on the articles accepted for publication drew on local context to planning and responding wicked problems within local areas and the process of adopting immediate built-environment principles as captured in neighbourhood planning to managing these challenges that limits communal liveability. The importance of local context and ‘neighbourhood-ness’ of research draws on the position of Lee et al. (2022), that neighbourhood planning remains an under-utilised ideology, approach, and process of achieving community liveability. This issue, as presented in the section below, provides a critical eye and/or perception on the inter- and multidisciplinary prisms of neighbourhood planning as a sustainable approach to achieving liveable communities.
The study examined human activities contributing to the depletion of the Eleyele watershed. The activities have grown over time due to urban expansion through population growth and land and space requirements, resulting in rapid land use and land cover change. The study sourced both quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 247 pre-tested questionnaires were administered to randomly selected residents in the four communities (Eleyele, Ijokodo, Awotan, and Idi Osan) abutting the Eleyele watershed. In-depth interviews were conducted with the heads of Eleyele Waterworks, the Forestry Department, and the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. We used Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to analyze the change in land use and landcover within the watershed from 1987 to 2019. Findings revealed that activities such as fuelwood harvesting, indiscriminate waste dumping, sand excavation, and housing construction, among others, accounted for the watershed encroachment and depletion. Temporal analysis of landcover change between 1987 and 2019 indicated that water bodies decreased from 1.6 km2 to 1.3 km2 in 2019, natural vegetation decreased from 24.8 km2 to 14.9 km2 in 2019, and built-up area increased from 8.9 km2 to 20.1 km2 as of 2019. There is an inverse relationship between urban expansion and the loss of vegetation cover within the watershed. Proposed strategies to secure the watershed and reservoir include the construction of perimeter fencing around the watershed, a public enlightenment campaign, and the reestablishment of protective vegetation in undeveloped areas within the watershed.
This paper examines the role of community partnerships and coalitions in the intricate and constantly evolving dynamics of communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Various aspects of the community context, such as socioeconomic conditions, geography, environmental factors, demographics, community politics, and cultural norms, often influence these community partnerships and coalitions. This study adopted the Community Coalition Action Theory as an organisational framework to examine the efforts of coalitions and partnerships in community-based research. The research applied a mixed-methods approach. This included a survey and individual interviews within the research organisation responsible for multiple community-based projects in rural and urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in-depth interviews with project beneficiaries and senior government officials. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was applied to explore how contextual factors impacted partnership and coalition formation. Our results highlight the importance of community-based partnerships and coalitions in facilitating effective research initiatives that improve the quality of life in rural and urban communities. This study emphasises the importance of incorporating community voices into decision-making processes that impact their lives. Our findings provide insights into how partnership and coalition efforts shape the research process and why they are crucial for community-based research. The results also identify the types of partnerships required for successful research, community planning, and intervention implementation, along with the foundational principles and components needed for effective partnering. This paper advocates for strategic collaborations between academic institutions, government departments, and local communities. It highlights the critical influence of community politics, historical context, and cultural values during the research implementation phase. These findings offer guidance for improving approaches to community-based research implementation, ensuring that research comprehensively addresses the needs of rural and urban communities.
The provision of services, encompassing substandard medical facilities, inadequate housing conditions, limited access to electricity, insufficient recreational amenities, and the absence of potable water supply, has emerged as a significant impediment confronting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) both domestically and globally. The present investigation sought to evaluate the impact of service delivery on the welfare of IDPs residing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The objectives of this inquiry were to assess the socioeconomic attributes of the IDPs, scrutinize the types and efficacy of service delivery within the IDP camps, and appraise the consequences of service delivery on the well-being of the IDPs in the research area. For this study, we selected a representative sample of 331 households to examine the households encompassing the IDPs. The data underwent statistical analysis employing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings unveiled the extent of deprivation endured in terms of essential amenities such as shelter, proper sanitation, reliable electricity, potable water, and adequate healthcare provisions. For instance, all participants resided in makeshift accommodations, including tents, plank houses, schools, and sack houses, with over 80% expressing concerns regarding security issues within the IDP camps. Consequently, this investigation concludes that the research area grapples with challenges encompassing food insecurity, personal security, criminal activities, fear of crime, poor health, limited educational opportunities, and precarious livelihoods, thereby augmenting vulnerability and diminishing the quality of life experienced by Internally Displaced Persons. Accordingly, the study offers recommendations advocating for comprehensive planning measures targeting IDPs in Abuja with the purpose of enhancing their well-being and overall quality of life.
The need for a paradigmatic shift in city development ideology has become increasingly evident over the years. In response to this need, the Hangwurian City Development Model was developed to establish a connection between the concepts of environmental awareness, urban governance, and management. This model also integrates sustainable urban development, urban liveability, and inclusive physical development. The research sets a critical objective of analyzing the significant levels of various indicator variables. The exploratory research utilized partial least squares (PLS) via SmartPLS to evaluate the variables, collecting quantitative data through the open data toolkit from three selected cities: Lokoja, Minna, and Lafia in North-Central Nigeria. The study sampled 843 respondents across the cities, randomly selected among residents aged 18 years and older, with a focus on household heads as the unit of measurement. The research findings indicate that most of the examined variables have Cronbach's Alpha above 0.7, and most of the retained variables have a significance value greater than or equal to 0.7. The average variance explained by the indicators was very substantial, with most falling within the 0.5 to 0.6 range. Therefore, the research recommends that, due to the significance of the indicators and the validity of the internal and external data, this model can be applied as a procedural framework to guide city development on a regional scale. Consequently, it was concluded that for city development to progress and evolve without the issues that Hangwurian city development aims to address, it must be approached through the interconnectedness and significance of environment, governance, sustainability, liveability, and inclusion.
This study explores the intersection of environmental initiatives and social justice movements in the Philippines, a nation rich in biodiversity but acutely vulnerable to climate change and ecological degradation. Using Laudate Deum as a guiding framework, the research examines how the principles of Immediate Action, Collective Responsibility, and Social Justice can inform collaborative strategies to address these challenges. Through an analysis of case studies, this paper highlights the socio-economic impacts of environmental crises, such as deforestation and pollution, and evaluates initiatives like mangrove reforestation and community-based waste management for their ecological and social benefits. The findings reveal that integrating Laudate Deum principles advances synergies between environmental restoration and social equity, emphasizing the need for participatory approaches that empower marginalized communities. This study concludes with actionable recommendations, including strengthening partnerships across sectors, aligning environmental policies with socio-economic needs, and enhancing monitoring frameworks to ensure long-term sustainability. By linking ecological stewardship with social justice, Laudate Deum provides a unifying framework for achieving a just and sustainable future.
Infrastructure development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) requires diversified financing strategies to address a significant funding shortfall that cannot be met by domestic resources alone. This research evaluates the contributions of external financing—namely Official Development Assistance (ODA), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI)—in complementing domestic efforts to advance infrastructure in SSA. It examines their influence, alongside governance, on the development of physical and social infrastructure components. Employing methodologies such as Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) and System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) across 43 SSA economies from 2000 to 2022, the analysis reveals that FDI substantially enhances physical infrastructure development but does not significantly impact social infrastructure. In contrast, ODA is shown to have a negative direct effect on overall infrastructure development, whereas PPI shows no significant direct influence. However, when considering indirect effects mediated by governance, all external financing sources positively affect both types of infrastructure, except for PPI’s influence on social infrastructure. Theoretically, this study reinforces the critical roles of economic growth, institutional quality, and external financing in supporting infrastructure development, as suggested by related theories. The study recommends that SSA authorities should focus on attracting more foreign investment, particularly in physical infrastructure projects, and encourage a broader diversification of external financing sources beyond FDI alone. Moreover, enhancing governance practices is essential for effective resource allocation and utilization. The study also advocates for improved public spending efficiency through enhanced project prioritization and governance reforms to foster sustainable infrastructure development in the region.
Joint Operation (JO) construction companies in Indonesia face persistent challenges in technology transfer, including misalignment between advanced technologies and organizational capacities. Knowledge management has been proposed as a strategic solution, but its implementation remains underdeveloped. This study develops a framework to enhance technology transfer in JO construction projects through improved knowledge management practices. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a literature review with an analytical hierarchy process, fuzzy set theory, and a simple additive weighting method, supported by data from selected respondents involved in the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project (CP201). Key findings identify knowledge acquisition, utilization, and sharing as critical processes, with sub-criteria such as clarity of roles and responsibilities and external collaboration emerging as pivotal. The SECI (Socialization, Externalization, Combination, and Internalization) model is applied to guide the development of actionable strategies for effective knowledge management. This study contributes a tailored framework for Indonesian JO construction companies, bridging gaps in technology transfer and advancing organizational capabilities. Practical recommendations are provided to improve knowledge integration and foster sustainable growth in infrastructure projects.
This study investigates the influence of logistics factors on the procurement of construction materials in Lokoja, Kogi State, aiming to identify and rank the critical elements affecting material procurement in building projects. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed across nineteen neighborhoods in Lokoja using a random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while the T-test assessed the significance of identified logistics factors. The findings revealed that seventeen logistics factors influence material procurement, with seven factors emerging as the most significant: on-time delivery, transportation challenges, material misdelivery, delivery inaccuracies, order processing, storage capacity limitations, and ineffective information flow. These factors were ranked by their impact on procurement processes, with hypothesis testing confirming a statistically significant relationship between logistics factors and material procurement efficiency. The study concludes that effective management of key logistics factors is essential to avoid cost overruns, delays, and material wastage. It recommends that project managers prioritize better coordination among stakeholders to address logistics-related challenges, ensuring materials are delivered efficiently and on time.
Mass housing projects in Northern Nigeria often suffer from insufficient risk management, impacting timely delivery, budget adherence, and quality standards. This study assesses risk vulnerabilities in selected mass housing infrastructure projects, focusing on information risks related to roles, responsibilities, scope, requirements, and operations. A mixed-methods approach was employed, with data collected from 465 construction professionals across 20 states, with a 64.58% response rate. Analytical tools, including regression and Pearson correlation, identified critical risks such as underfunding, weak project monitoring and control, and the failure to deliver end-user value. Findings reveal that these risks significantly undermine project outcomes, highlighting the need for robust risk management strategies. A risk management framework is proposed to prioritize and address these vulnerabilities throughout the project lifecycle. This research contributes to the field by offering actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to enhance mass housing delivery, ensuring alignment with end-user needs and project goals.
As urbanization continues to grow, the development of smart cities has become a pivotal strategy for addressing the complex challenges of modern urban living. These cities harness advanced technologies like the artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Digital Twin to optimize city operations, improve sustainability, and enhance the quality of life for their residents. However, the success of smart cities should not be measured by the sheer quantity of hardware and software implemented but rather by the quality of life they create for the people who live and work within them. In other words, smart cities must prioritize human well-being as a core goal alongside technological advancement. In a smart city, hardware encompasses the physical infrastructure and devices, such as sensors, data centers, communication networks, energy grids, and other tangible components that gather data, facilitate communication, and support the city's operations. The software includes the digital systems, algorithms, and applications that process and analyze data, which facilitate decision-making, predictive analysis, and automation. However, neither hardware nor software can operate well without brainware, the human operators who oversee, maintain, and interact with these systems, as well as the citizens who utilize the smart city services offered. For a smart city to be successful, its brainware must possess the requisite knowledge, skills, and mindset to manage the technologies and adapt to their dynamic nature. It involves ensuring that city planners, public officers, and citizens are not merely passive consumers of technology but active participants who understand how to utilize the available resources to enhance their lives and communities. Smart citizens can interact with surrounding technology, which enable informed decision-making and enhancing the sustainability and governance of the city. Likewise, smart operators overseeing smart systems must have the skills to analyze data, resolve problems, and make decisions that improve the efficiency and safety of urban operations. Brainware is vital for maintaining the smart city ecosystem, since human decision-making and oversight are important for the successful integration of technology. Therefore, city operators must possess the ability to comprehend and adapt to emerging technologies and complex systems so that the seamless functioning of all smart city systems can be guaranteed. To acquire brainware, a holistic strategy in education and training is needed, which includes building technological literacy and developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills. Moreover, it is also essential to ensure that all citizens, irrespective of their age, background, or digital literacy, are included in the smart city ecosystem by providing equitable access to technology and information. Therefore, community participation can be encouraged and citizens’ digital literacy of citizens can be improved, which can further enable collective decision-making and responsible resources use. Consequently, the development of smart cities should not solely be limited only on the hardware and software but should also prioritize the development of brainware. We can establish cities that are not only technologically advanced but also socially inclusive by guaranteeing that the city operators are trained and that citizens are empowered to interact with the smart city technologies. A comprehensive approach that integrates hardware, software, and brainware will ensure the development of smart cities that are inclusive, resilient, and capable of safeguarding a sustainable future for urban living.
This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s infrastructural development from 2014 to 2023, focusing on significant achievements and recurring challenges. The study examines key projects in transportation, energy, and housing, such as the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan railways, the Azura-Edo Power Plant, and urban road upgrades. Persistent issues, including insufficient funding, regulatory inefficiencies, regional disparities, and security challenges, are also assessed. Using a mixed-methods approach that incorporates a literature review, data analysis, and stakeholder perspectives, the research evaluates the social and economic effects of these initiatives. The findings provide strategic recommendations to improve infrastructure quality and accessibility, promote sustainable practices, and support long-term economic development.
Urbanization and climate change are significant drivers of rising Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the formation of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs), which have emerged as pressing environmental challenges in recent decades. This study examines the relationship between Land Use/Cover (LU/C) indices and LST in Kaduna, Nigeria, using multi-temporal Landsat imagery spanning five periods from 2001 to 2021. LST values were derived from the Landsat thermal bands, while LU/C dynamics were identified using the Maximum Likelihood Classifier algorithm. LU/C indices—including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), and Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI)—were generated to evaluate their correlation with LST. The results highlight a substantial increase in built-up areas over the 20-year period, accompanied by rising LST values, particularly over bare land and built-up regions, while water bodies exhibited the lowest LST values. Among the LU/C indices, NDBI showed the strongest positive correlation with LST, emphasizing the influence of urban expansion on surface thermal dynamics. The study underscores the critical need for sustainable urban planning and holistic design strategies to mitigate rising LST and SUHI effects in rapidly urbanizing regions like Kaduna.
The absence of adequate parking facilities in residential and public areas remains a significant issue in developing countries, often disrupting economic activities and environmental quality. In Keffi town, the increasing demand for parking exceeds the available supply, leading to congestion and inefficiency. This study evaluates the current public parking facilities, focusing on provision levels, infrastructure conditions, and management frameworks. Primary data were gathered using structured questionnaires and direct observations, with 328 valid responses analyzed through descriptive statistics. Results indicate that prolonged vehicle stays exacerbate congestion, such as at Nasarawa State University (32.8%) and Federal Medical Centre (29.1%). Parallel parking dominates (65.2%), and 91.6% of users rely on traditional search methods, highlighting the absence of modern parking guidance systems. The study recommends improving parking infrastructure with an emphasis on environmental standards, user convenience, safety, and the enforcement of effective regulatory frameworks.
The government of Indonesia has launched programs to decarbonize its power systems by replacing fossil fuel-based plants with renewable energy. Solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment faces economic and technical barriers despite abundant solar irradiance. This study evaluates techno-economic strategies for 10 MW grid-connected solar PV systems, comparing two scenarios: without Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and with BESS to reduce grid reliance. Key interventions were analyzed for their economic impacts, including tariff adjustments, carbon tax implementation, and competitive auction schemes. The results show that without BESS, the project achieves an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 21.30%, making it highly feasible. However, including BESS lowers the IRR to 5.89% due to higher costs. Combining carbon tax and tariff adjustments improves feasibility, achieving a Profitability Index (PI) of 1.00 and an IRR of 14.74%. Competitive auctions further lower costs, enhancing the feasibility of BESS projects. While solar PV without BESS is economically viable, risks of capital cost increases require attention. For BESS projects, policy interventions such as auctions and incentives are essential. This study highlights strategic measures to accelerate solar PV adoption in Indonesia, providing insights for policymakers and investors to scale up renewable energy deployment effectively.
The significant increase in infrastructure development is directly proportional to the rising accident rate in the construction sector, making it one of the highest-risk sectors for accidents. This phenomenon indicates that existing construction safety audits have not been effective in preventing accidents, largely because audits are generally conducted only at the construction stage. Audits at the design stage, however, have the potential to impact accident prevention significantly. Therefore, this research aims to develop a construction safety audit model using the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and analyzes the impacts on stakeholder communication and collaboration. BPMN was chosen because it provides a clear and standardized visual representation of business processes, making it easier to identify potential safety issues and improve stakeholder understanding. Statistical methods were employed to examine the relationships, resulting in a linear equation model with a strong correlation. Furthermore, audit activities conducted through three layers of stakeholders can be efficiently modeled using BPMN, positively impacting stakeholder communication and collaboration. Applying the Three Lines of Defense (TLoD) theory and BPMN provides new insights for construction safety committees and companies to plan and conduct more comprehensive safety audits. The implication of this study includes a potential reduction in construction accidents and improved work safety through more effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders.
Understanding and accurately representing the Earth's surface is crucial in various scientific and practical fields. Over the past decades, measurement technology has seen remarkable advancements, offering an array of methods for recording and analyzing Earth's surface with increasing precision and efficiency. Two primary approaches have risen to the forefront of this field: the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and terrestrial measurements using a Total Station. Although both technologies offer unique advantages and constraints, a comprehensive direct comparison between these two methods often remains an underexplored area. The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) represents the height of the ground surface resulting from acquisition using drones. Ground Control Points (GCPs) are evenly distributed in the study’s Area of Interest (AoI) to enhance accuracy and precision. The DEM data is then converted into contour maps and corrected for horizontal and vertical accuracy using the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) method following the Geospatial Information Agency's standards (Regulation No. 15 of 2014). Terrestrial measurement is a method used to create contour maps using a Total Station to obtain field coordinate data. Terrestrial measurements create contour maps using a Total Station, with field coordinate data corrected by GPS Geodetic methods and compared with aerial photo DEM data. RMSE calculations reveal that DEM data has RMSExy of 0.319 meter (m) and RMSEz of 0.197 m, whereas terrestrial data using the Total Station shows RMSExy of 0.062 m and RMSEz of 0.039 m. Accuracy comparisons indicate that the DEM from aerial photographs has a Circular Error (CE) of 0.485 m and Linear Error (LE) of 0.325 m, while terrestrial data accuracy using a Total Station shows CE of 0.094 m and LE of 0.064 m.
The rapid growth of high-rise building construction in Indonesia has led to a significant increase in accidents, necessitating a robust audit process for construction safety. This research investigates the relationship between construction safety plans (CSPs), audit processes, knowledge management (KM), information systems, the web, and BIM on construction safety performance, aiming to develop a BIM-based KM audit process. To analyze the significance level of various indicators for each variable considerable importance, a mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative insights from expert interviews with quantitative analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via SmartPLS. The findings in the study reveal that the studied variables have a Cronbach's Alpha value above 0.7, and the retained variables have a significant value greater than or equal to 0.7. In this study, the confidence level is 95%, where there is a relationship between variables that meet the t-table, which is > 1.96, it can be concluded that the relationship between each variable has a significant value. This study provides a framework for integrating these elements to enhance construction safety performance, offering valuable guidelines for industry stakeholders to improve safety practices in construction projects.
This study is a comparative analysis of local and global sourcing strategies to determine the impact of strategic material sourcing on road construction project performance. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of material-sourcing strategies on the performance of road construction companies in Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach was used, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research. Data collection involved sampling techniques using structured questionnaires and oral interviews. Regression analysis evaluated the relationship between strategic material sourcing and road construction performance. The results revealed that 87.5% of the materials used by road construction companies in the study areas were sourced from the local market, which indicates a high dependence on local resources and substantial investments and purchases within the local economy. Additionally, it was shown that local material sourcing was advantageous over global sourcing in terms of quick delivery and cost savings on road projects. However, the study also revealed that global material sourcing was necessary for projects requiring advanced and higher-quality materials. The study concludes that a high percentage of domestic material sourcing is essential for boosting the Nigerian economy through industrialization, employment generation, and a robust and self-sufficient economy. It is recommended that both government and private material suppliers explore ways to enhance the quality and availability of local road construction materials through advanced manufacturing technologies to improve service delivery by road project contractors. Furthermore, expanding the existing road material procurement process could create opportunities for construction companies beyond the local area and foster healthier competition among them by leveraging economies of scale.
