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The ever-increasing pollution, poverty and poor economy, caused in part by human activities, have necessitated the need for sustainable development (SD) and sustainable construction (SC). This requires reconsidering sustainable development goals (SDGs) as a complementary approach to achieving a sustainably built environment. This paper aims to explore how stakeholder’s engagement can drive the attainment of SDGs in the Nigerian construction industry (NCI), with a view to advancing a sustainable construction industry (SCI) in Nigeria. The study also examines the inhibitors of attaining SDGs in the light of 10 core SDGs that play a sustainable role in the NCI.

The study adopted a qualitative research approach. Data were collected from 22 stakeholders (practitioners and policy makers) in the NCI through interviews which were transcribed, coded and analysed thematically.

The results deduced that industry-related, government-related and economic, environmental and socio-cultural-related themes inhibit SDGs in the NCI, while SDGs-driven policy implementation, best practices and educating/training themes can be used to attain SDGs in Nigeria. Valuable insights from the findings recommended stakeholders’ engagement in eliminating the influx of quacks, repositioning attitudinal change in governance, streamlining funds for SD, implementing and complying to building regulations, providing professional practice and training stakeholders about the benefits of sustainability in Nigeria.

Emerging inhibitors of SDGs are identified, leading to the development of innovative approaches and actions for stakeholders’ engagement, which were missing from previous studies. Stakeholders and the government can use the strategic phases proposed in this paper to advance a SCI in Nigeria.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of public open spaces (POS) on host community in Kano Metropolis.

Two sets of questionnaires and participant observation were used to collect data for the study. The questionnaires were used to elicit information on the socioeconomic characteristics of residents and users, a total of 140 residents and 70 users were selected for the study using random sampling without replacement.

Findings revealed majority of the residents earn above 25,000 naira monthly with a percentage of 32.85% while patrons were dominated by respondents that earn below 25,000 monthly. Also, majority of the respondents (94%) have received formal education. Further findings revealed that POS in Kano Metropolis plays an important role in encouraging recreational activities; although some of the open spaces were to some extent declined, the study confirmed the existence of 28 open spaces from the underlying 35 POS within the metropolis. It is noteworthy to note that males were found to be more (80.9%) among users of all the open spaces in the study area with the least participation from their female counterparts. The study further revealed that the adverse effects faced by users of POS and members of the host communities comprised of lack of facilities within the open space, inadequate security, inadequate lighting, lack of vegetation cover, poor parking spaces, breaching the public peace while the residents perceived the open space as means of obstruction of public facilities, causes accident, causes traffic congestion, environmental pollution, increase in accident, obstruction of public facilities, increased accident, degrades the environment, breaching of public peace, traffic congestion and obstruction of public facilities.

The outcome of the study will raise the awareness of the people on the importance, conditions of facilities and the impact associated with the usage of open spaces on adjoining residence. It will also inform stakeholders the modalities to prevent further decline or conversation of open space to other land use and promote proper management of open space facilities and mitigate its likely negative impact on the environment. This will contribute toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11.