Greening the Nigerian construction sector: stakeholder reflection on smart materials advancements

Purpose The Nigerian construction sector faces urgent sustainability pressures driven by rising urban pollution, declining environmental quality and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Despite global progress in deploying smart construction materials (SCMs) for urban environmental decontamination and GHG reduction, their application in Nigeria remains limited. This study therefore, investigates stakeholder perspectives on the relevance, benefits and implementation pathways of SCMs in Nigeria's built environment. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a qualitative research design involving 26 semi-structured virtual interviews with stakeholders across Lagos and Abuja. Participants included industry practitioners, academics, consultants and urban development professionals. Data were analysed thematically to identify insights on the role of SCMs, barriers to their uptake and strategies to strengthen adoption. Findings Results show that stakeholders view SCMs as essential for enhancing environmental quality, improving energy efficiency, supporting urban decontamination and reducing GHG emissions in Nigeria's construction sector. However, key barriers such as weak regulation, low awareness, inadequate technical capacity, high upfront costs and supply chain limitations constrain widespread adoption. Stakeholders proposed policy reform, public–private partnerships (PPPs), capacity-building programmes, demonstration projects and financial incentives as practical measures to scale SCM integration. Practical implications The study offers a context-specific evidence base to guide policymakers, industry leaders and developers in accelerating SCM uptake through targeted and feasible interventions that support national sustainability goals. Originality/value By explicitly focusing on SCMs for urban environmental decontamination and GHG reduction, this research provides one of the earliest practitioner-informed assessments of SCM adoption in a developing-country context. It contributes new knowledge and presents a stakeholder-driven roadmap for advancing sustainable construction in sub-Saharan Africa.