Assessment of Barriers to the Implementation of Lean Construction Techniques in a Public Housing Project in Abuja, Nigeria

This study assessed the socioeconomic characteristics of construction personnel and examined the barriers to the implementation of lean construction techniques in the construction of the 40-unit judge’s quarters project in Abuja, Nigeria. A quantitative approach was adopted using a descriptive survey design. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to construction professionals and workers involved in the project, yielding 147 valid responses. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the workforce was predominantly male (72.1%) and largely within the active working age of 18–40 years, indicating a youthful and physically capable labour force. Site engineers and skilled workers constituted the largest professional groups on the project. Despite the potential benefits of lean construction, its implementation was hindered by several challenges. The most significant barrier identified was the lack of awareness and training (26.5%), followed by resistance to change (21.1%) and inadequate management support (18.4%). Other constraints included poor communication among stakeholders (12.9%), inconsistent application of lean tools (10.9%), and the absence of a formal lean policy (10.2%). The study concludes that while lean construction has the capacity to enhance efficiency and reduce waste, its adoption is limited by knowledge gaps, organizational weaknesses, and behavioural resistance. It recommends capacity building, stronger management commitment, improved communication systems, and the development of formal policies to support the effective implementation of lean practices in the Nigerian construction industry.

Lean construction, barrier, awareness, training, implementation.

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