Effects of Stakeholder Involvement in Sustainable Road Infrastructural Projects in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Over the years, it has been observed that persistent issues, such as poor maintenance, weak project delivery, and limited community participation in infrastructure management, have been prevalent. This study assessed the effects of stakeholder involvement on sustainable road infrastructure development in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 365 respondents, comprising government agencies, contractors, engineers, community members, and civil society organisations. Data were analysed using mean scores and the Relative Importance Index (RII). The results revealed that stakeholder engagement significantly improves the durability and quality of roads (mean = 3.11; RII = 0.622), enhances design quality through user feedback (mean = 3.10; RII = 0.620), and increases social acceptability of projects (mean = 3.09; RII = 0.618). Conversely, aspects related to environmental sustainability ranked lower, with eco-friendly construction practices (mean = 2.95; RII = 0.590) and compliance with environmental laws (mean = 3.03; RII = 0.606) receiving less emphasis. The study concludes that while stakeholder participation strengthens the technical and social dimensions of sustainability, environmental inclusion remains inadequate. Consequently, three key recommendations were made: Institutionalise inclusive stakeholder engagement frameworks to improve transparency and reduce conflicts; Strengthen environmental stakeholder participation to enhance compliance and promote green construction practices; and Enhance capacity-building and feedback mechanisms to ensure accountability and continuous stakeholder collaboration. Overall, the findings underscore that balanced stakeholder engagement across technical, social, and environmental dimensions is critical for achieving long-term sustainable road infrastructure in Niger State and similar developing contexts.