BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

Sustainable procurement has been widely recognized as a strategic instrument for promoting sustainable development; however, its implementation remains limited in many developing economies. This study examined the barriers to implementing sustainable procurement practices in Nigeria as a representative developing economy. A quantitative research design was adopted, and primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to procurement professionals working in public-sector ministries, departments, and agencies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis. The findings reveal that weak regulatory frameworks, lack of government commitment, limited professional knowledge, financial constraints, and poor availability of sustainable suppliers constitute the most significant barriers to sustainable procurement implementation. Descriptive results show high levels of agreement among respondents on these barriers, while factor analysis grouped them into four dominant clusters: regulatory and institutional constraints, financial and economic limitations, leadership and knowledge deficiencies, and attitudinal and market-related challenges. Regulatory and institutional barriers emerged as the most influential constraint, explaining the largest proportion of variance. The study concludes that sustainable procurement implementation in developing economies is constrained by systemic governance, capacity, and market challenges rather than isolated organizational factors. It recommends coordinated policy reform, capacity development, and market support measures to mainstream sustainability within public procurement systems. The findings contribute empirical evidence from Nigeria and provide insights relevant to other developing economies seeking to leverage public procurement for sustainable development.