BARRIERS TO BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM) ADOPTION AMONG ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION (AEC) SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN JOS METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is widely credited with improving productivity and coordination in construction, yet its adoption among architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria remains concentrated in Lagos and Abuja, leaving other regions poorly understood. This study surveyed AEC professionals practising in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, in Nigeria’s North-Central geopolitical zone, to establish current BIM awareness, rank adoption barriers, and identify enablement strategies. After geographic screening, 89 of 109 received responses were retained and analysed using descriptive statistics and the Relative Importance Index (RII). Results show that 87.6% of respondents had heard of BIM, but only 20.2% had received formal training and only 23.6% of firms reported a specific adoption plan. Weak client demand (RII = 0.703) and the absence of a government mandate (RII = 0.695) were ranked the most severe barriers, ahead of unproven local return on investment, software/hardware cost, and lack of affordable training; technical complexity and workload pressure were rated least severe. Respondents rated university curriculum integration (RII = 0.846) and a shared BIM Hub facility (RII = 0.798) as more important enablement strategies than a public-project mandate (RII = 0.727), even though mandate absence was the second most severe rated barrier. The findings suggest that demand-side and capability-building interventions are likely to be more effective in this market than regulation or cost subsidy alone, and provide, to the authors’ knowledge, among the first empirical evidence on AEC SME BIM adoption specific to Jos Metropolis and Nigeria’s North-Central zone.