International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET International Open Access, Monthly, Peer Reviewed, Reputed Journal ISSN (online): 2581-3048

Impact Factor (2025): 6.9

DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET

Barriers Associated with the Adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Nigerian Construction Sector

Igwe Jude ChidozieDepartment of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, NigeriaCasper GateMasterMohammed ZakariyauDepartment of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Vol 9 No 5 (2025): Volume 9, Issue 5, May 2025 | Pages: 483-488

International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology

OPEN ACCESS | Research Article | Published Date: 07-06-2025

doi Logo doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2025.905054

pdf iconFull Text PDF
Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is increasingly recognized as a transformative technology in global construction, with benefits such as enhanced cost control, reduced rework, enhanced collaboration, and better lifetime asset management.  However, its adoption in Nigeria's construction sector is still unequal and slow.  This paper uses scholarly research, policy documents, and comparative institutional reports to examine several barriers to BIM adoption in Nigeria.

The 10 themes of impediments identified were: technological, financial and economic, educational and human capital, organizational and cultural, legal and regulatory, market and client-driven, comparative and Cross-National reflections, influence of the informal sector, institutional Readiness and Capacity Deficits, and socioeconomic factors.  The findings indicate that the industry has challenges such as a significant skills gap, costly software, inadequate digital infrastructure, and resistance to organizational change.  The lack of institutional support and the absence of a national BIM policy exacerbate the challenges.

Most significantly, the research highlights barriers, such as the dominance of the unorganized sector, a lack of institutional capacity, and macroeconomic instability, that significantly affect Nigeria's adoption of BIM.  These findings demonstrate the need for a thorough, systems-thinking approach to BIM implementation.

The report concludes that in order to solve these challenges, Nigeria must put in place a coordinated approach, including all pertinent stakeholders, including the government, educational institutions, the business sector, and professional groups.  Funding sources, curricular integration, capacity-building initiatives, and policy development are essential to advancing BIM adoption from theory to reality.  In addition to contributing new perspectives to the discussion, this analysis establishes the framework for future empirical research and legislative efforts.

Keywords

Barriers, Adoption, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Nigerian Construction Sector


Citation of this Article

Igwe Jude Chidozie, Casper Gate, & Mohammed Zakariyau. (2025). Barriers Associated with the Adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Nigerian Construction Sector. International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET, 9(5), 483-488. Article DOI https://doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2025.905054

Licence Copyright (c) 2026 International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology creative common licence This work is licensed under Creative common Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 Internation Licence
References
  1. Ahuja, R., Sawhney, A., Jain, M., Arif, M., & Rakshit, S. (2020). Factors influencing BIM adoption in emerging markets–the case of India. International Journal of Construction Management, 20(1), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2018.1462445
  2. Akinradewo O, Aigbavboa C, Edwards D, Oke A. 2022. A principal component analysis of barriers to the implementation of blockchain technology in the South African built environment. JEDT. 20(4):914–934. doi: 10.1108/JEDT-05-2021-0292
  3. Alam, Firoz & Ali, Javed & Madni, Hamid & Husnain, Hafiz. (2023). Identifying Barriers to Effective BIM Adoption in the Re-Engineering of Construction Business Practices in Developing Countries. 10.20944/preprints202305.1378.v1.
  4. Babatunde, S.O., Udeaja, C. and Adekunle, A.O. (2021), "Barriers to BIM implementation and ways forward to improve its adoption in the Nigerian AEC firms", International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, Vol. 39 No. 1, pp. 48-71. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-05-2019-0047
  5. Bajpai A, Misra SC. 2021. Analyzing key barriers for adoption of digitalization in Indian construction industry: a case study. Singapore: Springer; p.683–693
  6. Bamgbose, O. A., Ogunbayo, B. F., & Aigbavboa, C. O. (2024). Barriers to Building Information Modelling Adoption in Small and Medium Enterprises: Nigerian Construction Industry Perspectives. Buildings, 14(2), 538. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020538
  7. Chan, D.W., Olawumi, T.O. and Ho, A.M. (2019a), “Critical success factors for building information modeling (BIM) implementation in Hong Kong”,
  8. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 26 No. 9, pp. 1838-1854
  9. Chan, D.W.M.; Olawumi, T.O.; Ho, A.M.L. Perceived benefits of and barriers to Building Information Modelling (BIM) implementation in construction: The case of Hong Kong. J. Build. Eng. 2019, 25, 100764.
  10. Chen X, Chang-Richards A, Pelosi A, Jia Y, Xuesong S, Mohsin K, Siddiqui N.2022. Implementation of technologies in the construction industry: a systematic review. ECAM. 29(8):3181–3209. doi: 10.1108/ECAM-02-2021-0172
  11. Dao, T.-N., & Chen, P.-H. (2020a). BIM adoption in construction projects funded with state-managed capital in Vietnam: Legal issues and proposed solutions. InCIGOS 2019, innovation for sustainable infrastructure (pp. 1211–1216). Springer.
  12. Ganah, Abdulkadir & John, Godfaurd. (2014). Achieving level 2 BIM by 2016 in the UK. 143-150. 10.1061/9780784413616.019.
  13. Gumel, Babandi & Bardai, Barjoyai. (2021). Barriers to Accessing Financial Institutions Funding for Nigerian SMEs. International Journal of Business and Economics Research. 10. 219-226. 10.11648/j.ijber.20211006.12.
  14. Hoang, G., Vu, D., Le, N. and Nguyen, T. (2020), “Benefits and challenges of BIM implementation for facility management in operation and maintenance face of buildings in Vietnam”, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, IOP Publishing, p. 022032.
  15. https://www.united-bim.com/leading-countries-with-bim-adoption/
  16. Idowu, Ayobami & Aigbavboa, Clinton & Oke, Ayodeji. (2023). Barriers to digitalization in the Nigerian construction industry. 10.35490/EC3.2023.196.
  17. Kaneta, Takashi & Furusaka, Shuzo & Tamura, Atsushi & Deng, Nisi. (2016). Overview of BIM Implementation in Singapore and Japan. Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture. 10. 10.17265/1934-7359/2016.12.001.
  18. Liu, S., et al. (2015). "Critical barriers to BIM implementation in the AEC industry." International Journal of MarketingStudies 7(6): 162
  19. Moshood, T. D., Nawanir, G., Sorooshian, S., Mahmud, F., & Adeleke, A. Q. (2020). Barriers and Benefits of ICT Adoption in the Nigerian Construction Industry. A Comprehensive Literature Review. Applied System Innovation, 3(4), 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/asi3040046
  20. Oesterreich TD, Teuteberg F. 2016. Understanding the implications of digit-isation and automation in the context of Industry 4.0: a triangulation approach and elements of a research agenda for the construction industry. Comput Ind. 83:121–139. doi: 10.1016/j.compind.2016.09.006.
  21. Ogbu, C.P. and Osazuwa, E.M. (2024), "Barriers to the growth of indigenous construction firms in Nigeria", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 31 No. 12, pp. 5106-5127. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2023-0211
  22. Oladiran, Olatunji & Simeon, Dele & Anyira, Spencer. (2022). Building Information Modelling (BIM): Drivers, barriers and socio- economic benefits. Covenant Journal of Research in the Built Environment. 10. 13-23.
  23. Olawumi, T.O. and Chan, D.W. (2019a), “Building information modelling and project information management framework for construction projects”, Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, Vol. 25, pp. 53-75
  24. Perera S, Jin X, Samaratunga M, Gunasekara AK. 2023. Drivers and barriers to digitalisation: a cross-analysis of the views of designers and builders in the construction industry. ITcon. 28:87–106. doi: 10.36680/j.itcon.2023.005
  25. Puci, Jona & Demi, Albana & Kadiu, Arjana. (2023). Impact of macroeconomic variables on the construction sector. Corporate and Business Strategy Review. 4. 22-30. 10.22495/cbsrv4i1art2.
  26. Qin, X., Shi, Y., Lyu, K., & Mo, Y. (2020). Using a TAM-TOE model to explore factors of Building Information Modelling (BIM) adoption in the construction industry. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 26(3), 259–277. https://doi.org/10.3846/jcem.2020.12176
  27. Shehzad, H. M. F., Ibrahim, R. B., Yusof, A. F., & Khaidzir, K. A. M.(2019). Building information modeling: Factors affecting the adoption in the AEC industry. In 2019 6thInternational Conference on Research and Innovation in Information Systems (ICRIIS) IEEE.
  28. Singh A, Kumar V, Verma P, Kandasamy J. 2023. Identification and severity assessment of challenges in the adoption of Industry 4.0 in Indian construction industry. Asia Pacific Manage Rev. 28(3):299–315. doi: 10.1016/j.apmrv.2022.10.007.
  29. Toyin, James & Mewomo, Modupe. (2022). An investigation of barriers to the application of building information modelling in Nigeria. Journal of Engineering Design and Technology. 21. 10.1108/JEDT-10-2021-0594.
  30. Wells, J. (2001). Construction and Capital Formation in less Developed Economies: Unraveling the Informal Sector in an African City, in Construction Management and Economics (London, Taylor & Francis Ltd.), 19, pp. 267-274. 

Copyright @ 2026 IRJIET. All Right Reserved.

Licensed underCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.