Challenges in Legislative Enactment and Implementation of the Nigeria National Building Code: Analysis of Stakeholders Perspectives

Abstract

The persistent non-enactment of the Nigerian National Building Code (NBC) represents a critical governance failure in Nigeria's construction sector, contributing to one of the world's highest rates of building collapses and estimated annual economic losses of ₦1.2 trillion. This study explores the legislative, institutional, and stakeholder barriers hindering the NBC's implementation, drawing on qualitative analysis of perspectives from 14 key stakeholders, including policymakers, regulators, and construction professionals. The findings reveal divergent stakeholder perceptions of the NBC’s purpose, political and jurisdictional bottlenecks in the legislative process, and post-enactment risks such as weak enforcement capacity, corruption, and inter-professional rivalries. Based on these insights, the study recommends urgent legislative reforms, institutional restructuring, and widespread stakeholder engagement to facilitate the NBC’s adoption and effective enforcement. The study concludes that without immediate and coordinated action, the NBC will remain a dormant policy instrument, perpetuating preventable construction failures and undermining Nigeria’s sustainable urban development aspirations.