Compliance with Responsible Sourcing Principles and Best Practices in Limestone Supply Chain for Cement Production in Northern Nigeria

Responsible sourcing has become an essential strategy for enhancing sustainability in construction material supply chains. This paper evaluated compliance with Responsible Sourcing Principles and Best Practices in the limestone supply chain for cement production in Northern Nigeria. Quantitative data were obtained from 122 respondents across key supply-chain stages and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative interviews and geo-spatial assessments provided contextual insights. Results revealed generally low to moderate compliance with responsible sourcing principles, with a grand mean compliance score of 3.94 ± 0.82 on a five-point Likert scale. Compliance levels varied across principles, ranging from 3.64 ± 0.95 for regular environmental impact assessments to 4.12 ± 0.79 for community compensation and resettlement practices. Inferential analysis confirmed statistically significant variations in compliance across supply-chain stages (p < 0.05), indicating uneven adoption of responsible sourcing practices. The findings suggest that economic pressures and weak institutional enforcement continue to outweigh environmental and social considerations in operational decision-making. The study concludes that responsible limestone sourcing in Northern Nigeria remains partially implemented and insufficiently integrated across the supply chain. Strengthened regulatory oversight, capacity development, and collaborative stakeholder engagement are recommended to improve compliance. This study contributes empirical evidence to support the development of context-specific sustainability frameworks for construction material supply chains in developing economies.