By Augustine Ehikioya
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to establish Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to boost local production, reduce construction costs, and expand access to affordable housing.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, disclosed this in Abuja while declaring open the 56th Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB), themed “Repositioning the Building Profession: Advocacy and Policy Influence on Housing Delivery for a Sustainable Built Environment.”
Akume explained: “Government is pursuing the development of Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs across the geopolitical zones precisely to support local production and reduce construction costs.” He urged professional builders to contribute technical expertise, research capacity, and industry networks from conceptualisation to delivery.
He stressed that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its commitment to expanding access to affordable, safe, durable, and sustainable housing. He added that housing goes beyond physical structures to include safety, dignity, family stability, wealth creation, and improved quality of life.
The SGF warned against poor supervision, substandard materials, construction shortcuts, corruption, and the use of unqualified personnel, noting that such practices “put lives and investments at risk.” He urged NIOB to intensify public awareness on the dangers of quackery and ensure certified builders do not lend their names or seals to projects they did not supervise.
Highlighting opportunities in ongoing infrastructure projects, Akume cited over 2,700 kilometres of highways and major roads currently under construction, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, and the East-West Road. He challenged builders to form professional consortia, establish quality-management systems, train artisans, and compete for housing and infrastructure projects.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment, Akume recalled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a Nigeria that is “secure, prosperous, inclusive, and respected worldwide.” He urged NIOB to make the Renewed Hope Agenda tangible through a commitment to “one ethical professional, one safe site, one durable structure, and one affordable roof at a time.”
He congratulated NIOB on its 56th Conference and AGM and formally declared the event open.
