This study empirically examined the interrelationship between the construction sector, oil prices, and the actual gross domestic product (GDP) in Nigeria. Using annual economic data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin, and econometric statistics, we found that although very strong positive and significant correlations exist between the construction sector output and total GDP output (0.934), the construction sector output and oil prices (0.856), and the total GDP output and oil prices (0.822), these linear relationships only exist for a short time. However, these relationships do not result in any direct causal influence on each other, except for the uni-directional Granger causal relationship that flows from the total GDP output to the construction sector output, which implies that economic activities of other major non-oil sectors stimulate the construction activities in Nigeria. Thus, we argue that neither the construction sector nor the oil prices directly influence the aggregate economy; rather, the other sectors' activities stimulate the construction sector in Nigeria. Two policy recommendations for achieving the Federal Government's medium term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) are suggested: (1) the Nigerian government should de-emphasize overreliance on the oil sector through policy readjustment and (2) an urgent need for economic diversification in Nigeria exists, since we revealed that an increase in the aggregate GDP output is due to the activities of other non-oil sectors.

This study applied the principles of social ecological model in developing a safety performance improvement framework in Nigeria construction industry. When the data collected through questionnaires distributed to the construction workers were statistically analysed using Pearson Product Moment correlation, the study found that safety behaviour intervention factors were positively correlated with safety performance. The correlation coefficient (r) ranges from 0.9713 (for community attributes) to 0.9991 (for interpersonal attributes), all of which were statistically significant at 5% significance level and the degree of freedom of 3 (i.e. p<0.05 in all cases). The coefficient of determination also ranges from 94.34% (for community attributes) to 99.82% (for interpersonal attributes). This represented the amount of safety performance improvement that would be achieved when behaviour intervention were positively applied, and translated to the percentage of accident reduction on site. Based on this result, social ecological model of safety performance improvement (SEM-SPI) framework was developed. The framework involved four implementation strategic steps through which it could be applied. This framework would be used to model the behaviour of construction workers towards behaving safely. The study recommended a practical application of the framework so as to improve the safety performance of construction workers.

This study assessed the occupational health and safety risk-level of common building construction trades in Nigeria. It also identified the sources, frequency and magnitude of risks inherent in the activities of various building construction trades. Being site-based survey research, it made use of a structured questionnaire administered to the selected building construction workers of different trades in Anambra State, Nigeria. The collected data were subjected to quantitative risk analysis using mean value method and risk prioritisation number. The study found that masonry, carpentry (including formwork and roofing), and iron bending and steel fixing are common building trades associated with high risks; whereas electrical fitting and installation, painting, tiling, and plumbing are medium risk building trades. It also found that the rate of occurrence and magnitude of impact of different safety risk factors differ across the building trades, which could be attributed to the differences in activities and modes of operation in different building trades. On this premise, the study suggested a multi-risk management and control approach for construction managers on building construction sites since the frequency of risk occurrence and the magnitude of risk severity differ across trades. It further called for institutional and legislative re-strengthening of extant labour laws in Nigeria.

This study was aimed at examining the relationships between the effectiveness of safety intervention programmes and implementation strategies in the Nigeria construction industry. Structured questionnaires were distributed to construction stakeholders across some selected states in Nigeria and the data generated were analysed using Pearson's product moment correlation. The study found that the effectiveness of safety intervention programmes for construction site accidents prevention is significantly related to the communication implementation strategies. Based on the principles of social ecological theory and UNICEF's communication for development strategies, this study developed a multilevel safety intervention implementation strategy for construction industries in Nigeria. Four communication strategies, namely, advocacy, social mobilisation, social change communication, and behaviour change communication, which are central to the effectiveness of safety intervention implementation programmes for construction site accidents prevention, were identified. It further revealed that these communication strategies could be individually and collectively applied at different intervention levels but that the greatest effect would be felt when all strategies are systematically combined with more efficient use of resources. The study recommended systematic actions by policy makers, construction organisations, and various community groups towards construction safety interventions, since maximum effect could only be felt when safety interventions are implemented across all levels.

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