Developing a framework for managing cybercrime in the Nigerian built environment industry: An explorative approach

Cybercrime activities are fast-growing and threatening critical sectors, including the built environment industry (BEI). This may threaten achieving Sustainable Development Goal 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure). Cyber attackers may attack the industry more if measures are not taken to manage cybercrime activities in industrial innovation and infrastructure development. Developing a framework to manage cybercrime may improve BEI’s cybersecurity and, by extension, improve achieving Goal 9 is pertinent. Thus, the study explores the root causes and identifies the information necessary to develop a Nigerian BEI cybersecurity framework for managing cybercrime to improve achieving Goal 9. Given the unexplored issues in Nigeria, twenty-eight experts were selected from Abuja and Lagos. The study achieved saturation. The interviewees were experts in cybercrime in the BEI. The study’s data were coded and analysed using a thematic method. Findings show that human-related sources are the major root cause of the Nigerian BEI’s cyberattack. Five key variables emerged as the information required to develop a BEI cybersecurity framework for managing cybercrime. The rapid construction digitalisation and administrative operations into cyberspaces have enhanced cyberattacks. This study raises awareness about cybersecurity implications and promotes cybersecurity framework management adaption, especially in Nigeria’s built environment industry, to improve achieving Goal 9.