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AbstractThe Construction industry in Nigeria, particularly in Anambra State, continues to perform poorly, characterized by project delays, a high rate of waste, and poor quality. This is due to the use of inappropriate project management techniques and a failure to apply Lean Construction Principles in their project delivery system. This study aims to examine the application of Lean Construction Principles as a means to improve building project delivery in Anambra State, Nigeria, with a focus on the adoption of these principles and their benefits within the local context. This study employed a quantitative research approach; data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 205 registered construction professionals, of which 160 valid responses were received and analyzed. The descriptive method of analysis was used to analyze the data obtained from the survey. The result obtained shows the following as the most significant enablers for the Implementation of LC principles. These are (1) generating value, (2) respect for people, (3) eliminate waste, (4) continuous improvement, (5) pull planning and scheduling, and (6) simplify processes with mean values of 4.76, 4.69, 4.46, 4.44, 3.95, and 3.86, respectively. The study recommended that investment in training programs, enhanced collaboration, top management support, and commitment to the adoption of Lean Construction Principles be ensured by ensuring teamwork among stakeholders to enhance quality, reduce waste, and achieve client satisfaction.Keywords: Lean Construction principles, Stakeholders, construction industry, and project delivery.1.0 IntroductionThe construction industry sector in Nigeria is crucial, significantly affecting national development and economic growth. However, it is known for being highly fragmented and often suffers from adversarial relationships, poor project performance in terms of productivity, gross inefficiency, frequent rework, disputes, inadequate innovation, and stakeholder dissatisfaction (Lee, 2013; Villanueva, 2018). In developing countries like Nigeria, the construction industry continues to struggle (Sospeter and Kikwasi, 2017). Ineffective project management techniques and the failure to implement lean construction methods contribute to the poor performance of the construction industry, marked by projects completed over budget and beyond the anticipated timeline, a high rate of waste, and low quality (Sospeter and Kikwasi, 2017). Many approaches have been suggested to tackle some of these challenges.Lean Construction (LC) emerges as a promising approach to address these issues. The shortcomings of traditional project management methods have led to the rise of Lean Construction, which significantly enhances project outcomes and management practices (Oladapo, Ogunbiyi, and Goulding, 2019). Lean Construction represents an innovative paradigm that emphasizes the implementation of Lean principles within the construction industry (Oladapo et al, 2019). In the manufacturing sector, particularly in the automotive industry, the lean management philosophy has already shown excellent performance (Mohammed, Anas, and Abdelali, 2017). The Lean manufacturing production system is primarily rooted in the Japanese industrial sector, specifically the Toyota production system (Antunes and Gonzalez, 2015). Its principles emphasize generating value for customers while minimizing waste at every stage of the building process. (Chukwuemeka, Ajaelu, and Chukwuenye, 2025). Key principles include value identification, waste reduction, continuous flow, full-based production, and continuous improvement (Chukwuemeka et al, 2025). In contrast to conventional building methods, Lean Construction fosters collaboration and adaptability, allowing teams to effectively respond to project changes. Various studies have indicated that the application of Lean methodologies can positively enhance project performance in terms of cost, time, quality, stakeholder satisfaction, and health and safety (Nwaki and Eze, 2020; Yaro; Adams, Saidu, and Anifowose, 2024).Despite the benefits demonstrated by researchers, Lean construction is still not widely adopted in Anambra State, Nigeria. Due to non-application, construction projects in Anambra State suffer from inefficiencies that lead to delays, budget excesses, and compromised quality. Therefore, this paper aims to assess the application of Lean construction principles as a solution for improving building project delivery in Anambra State. This assessment will include evaluating current practices, identifying Lean construction principles, and proposing strategies that will enhance construction project delivery in Anambra State.

Copyright © 2025 Arinze Uchenna Okeke. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.