Artificial Intelligence Applications in Construction Project Risk Management in Nigeria: Adoption Barriers, Enablers, and a Deployment Framework

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers significant potential for enhancing construction project risk management, yet its adoption trajectory in Nigeria is unstudied and a structured deployment framework is absent. This study examines AI adoption barriers and enablers for construction project risk management in Nigeria and develops a contextually appropriate deployment framework. A three-phase sequential design will conduct a systematic review of global AI risk management applications in construction, followed by a national survey of 280 construction risk managers, project directors, and technology specialists across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones assessing adoption readiness using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2). Phase three will develop and validate an AI deployment framework through expert Delphi consensus across two rounds with 25 panelists. The framework will address data infrastructure requirements, capability development pathways, regulatory compliance, and change management for AI risk tool adoption. This study constitutes Nigeria's first AI adoption framework for construction risk management, combining empirical survey evidence with structured expert consensus. Keywords: artificial intelligence, construction risk management, Nigeria, adoption framework, UTAUT2