Adaptive Reuse of Abandoned Buildings in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities and A Sustainable Development Framework for Urban Regeneration

Maxwell Momoh

doi:10.56201/ijemt.vol.12.no6.2026.pg182.198

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Adaptive Reuse of Abandoned Buildings in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities and A Sustainable Development Framework for Urban Regeneration

Maxwell Momoh

Abstract

Abandoned buildings pose a constant problem in many cities in Nigeria by causing wasted investment, inefficient land use, degrading the environment, creating security concerns, and deteriorating the quality of urban spaces. While often perceived as problematic burdens on the cities, these buildings are in fact underdeveloped resources that can contribute to sustainable urban regeneration when assessed, adapted and managed effectively. This study explores the constraints and possibilities associated with the adaptive reuse of abandoned buildings in Nigeria and presents a sustainable development framework to assist with decision making and practice. The study employed the critical literature review methodology using existing literature relating to abandoned public buildings, adaptive reuse, heritage conservation, sustainable construction, estate management and urban regeneration. This review highlights that key constraints to the adaptive reuse of abandoned buildings include their physical dereliction, opaque ownership, weak application of regulatory policies, restricted access to funding sources, lack of maintenance culture, insufficient data regarding building status and poor co-ordination of multiple actors. Notwithstanding these barriers, this work argues that adaptive reuse can minimise construction waste, conserve embodied building resources, support job creation within the community, enhance the image of cities, extend the useful life of buildings and reduce pressure on the acquisition of fresh development sites. Six decision points (physical condition; legal ownership status, economic viability, environmental value, social benefit and stakeholder co-ordination) were identified for incorporation into the framework developed. This paper enhances built environment knowledge relating to the confluence of construction project management, estate management and sustainability with the development of a practical framework to assess abandoned buildings in Nigeria. Ultimately, it is advocated that abandoned buildings should not simply be treated as a matter of design or conservation, but as a strategic component of sustainable regeneration.

Keywords

adaptive reuse; abandoned buildings; Nigeria; sustainable development; urban regeneration; estate management; construction project management

References

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Adaptive Reuse of Abandoned Buildings in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities and A Sustainable Development Framework for Urban Regeneration

Abstract

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