Application of Building Information Modelling in Construction Project Delivery in Nigeria: A Professional Assessment

Building Information Modelling has transformed the architectural and construction industries globally, yet its adoption in Nigerian professional practice remains uneven and insufficiently evaluated relative to the specific context of Nigerian project delivery conditions. This study professionally assesses the current state of BIM adoption, application quality, and project delivery impact in Nigerian construction projects, focusing on the experiences of architectural and engineering firms in Abuja and Lagos. A structured questionnaire was administered to eighty architectural and engineering professionals with direct project BIM experience, supplemented by case study analysis of five projects where BIM was explicitly employed. Assessment dimensions include BIM maturity level, software platforms used, team collaboration effectiveness, clash detection performance, quantity takeoff accuracy, and client and contractor integration. Results indicate that the majority of BIM use in Nigerian practice is at Level 1, characterised by individual firm 3D modelling without collaborative data sharing. Level 2 collaborative BIM was achieved in only two of the five case study projects, both involving international client organisations with BIM mandates. Software interoperability problems between architect and engineer platforms were reported in eighty-one percent of multi-discipline BIM projects. The primary barriers to BIM advancement identified are inadequate software licensing budgets, shortage of BIM-competent staff, and absence of a Nigerian BIM mandate comparable to the UK government mandate. Recommendations address a proposed NIOB BIM competency curriculum, a Federal Ministry of Works procurement pilot requiring BIM submission on federal projects above a threshold value, and capacity building partnerships with Autodesk education programmes. Keywords: Building Information Modelling, BIM adoption, Nigerian architecture, construction management, professional practice.