Supply chain integration in public sector construction projects: adoption and barriers

Traditional procurement practices in public sector construction often lead to inefficiencies, cost overruns, and delays due to fragmented collaboration. This study investigated supply chain integration (SCI) adoption and barriers in public sector construction projects in Nigeria’s Southern region, specifically Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. Employing a survey research design, 354 questionnaires were distributed to construction professionals, yielding 272 valid responses (76% response rate), and analyzed using mean item score (MIS) and the Kruskal–Wallis H-test. Findings indicate moderate SCI adoption (MIS = 2.53), with information sharing (MIS = 3.48), customer relationships (MIS = 3.46), leadership management (MIS = 3.25), long-term networking (MIS = 3.14), and just-in-time delivery (MIS = 2.80) as top practices. Key barriers included low innovation (MIS = 4.02), late material delivery (MIS = 3.99), lack of top management support (MIS = 3.89), poor stakeholder attitudes (MIS = 3.83), and inadequate resources (MIS = 3.75). Grounded in institutional theory, transaction cost economics, and stakeholder theory, this study provides empirical evidence from a developing context, offering actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to enhance project efficiency and sustainability through training, logistics improvements, and leadership commitment. Limitations include the regional focus, suggesting future research on digital tools and broader geographic contexts.