- FG plans Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
- George Akume urges builders to embrace local materials, reduce waste and strengthen domestic supply chains.
- Government warns that affordability must not come at the expense of quality and safety.
The Federal Government has announced plans to boost the local production of building materials as part of efforts to reduce construction costs and make home ownership more affordable for Nigerians.
Eko Hot Blog reports that secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while declaring open the 56th Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).
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The conference, themed, “Repositioning the Building Profession: Advocacy and Policy Influence on Housing Delivery for a Sustainable Built Environment,” brought together professionals and stakeholders in the building sector.
Akume said the government was pursuing the establishment of **Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs across the six geopolitical zones** to strengthen domestic production and reduce reliance on expensive supply chains.
According to him, the rising cost of construction has become a major obstacle to home ownership, with high building expenses placing housing beyond the reach of many Nigerian families.
He called for greater adoption of locally produced construction materials, bulk procurement, modern construction methods, reduced construction waste and stronger domestic supply chains.
The SGF urged Nigerian builders to support the initiative through their technical expertise, research and industry networks, stressing that professionals in the sector have a major role to play in shaping housing policies and improving project delivery.
Akume, however, warned that efforts to make construction more affordable must not compromise quality or safety.
He identified poor supervision, substandard materials, shortcuts, weak quality control, faulty construction methods, foundation failures and the use of unqualified personnel as some of the factors contributing to building failures.
He charged the NIOB to make professionalism non-negotiable and ensure that certified builders do not lend their names or professional seals to projects they did not supervise.
The SGF also encouraged the institute to promote design-to-cost approaches, transparent bills of quantities and construction methods that minimise waste while maintaining safety and durability.
Akume said the government expected the building profession to contribute significantly to the Renewed Hope Agenda by helping to make housing more affordable, safe, durable and economical to maintain.
He further noted that the Federal Government’s infrastructure programme was creating opportunities for Nigerian builders, with more than 2,700 kilometres of highways and major roads currently undergoing construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation.
Among the projects he mentioned were the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road and the East-West Road.
Akume urged builders to take advantage of the infrastructure drive and play a more active role in national development.
He said Nigerian builders should become associated with delivering projects on time, within budget and according to specifications without compromising professional standards.
The SGF urged participants at the conference to develop practical recommendations that would strengthen housing delivery and contribute to reducing construction costs across the country.
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