In a bold effort to transform Nigeria’s housing landscape, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has introduced a series of indigenous innovations aimed at reducing construction costs and accelerating access to affordable housing.
Spearheaded by Ibechile Egwudale, Director and Head of the Department of Federal Public Assets Maintenance, the initiative showcases a range of locally developed machines, both manual and semi-automated—designed to make housing delivery more efficient, sustainable, and accessible. These include compressed earth block machines, pulverisers, sandcrete mixers, compactors, and other construction tools tailored for local application.
At the heart of this innovation is the Compressed Earth Block (CEB) technology, a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional building materials. By promoting the use of readily available local resources, this approach aims to significantly cut construction costs and reduce dependency on expensive imported materials, especially for affordable housing developments.
The Honourable Minister of Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa, alongside Permanent Secretary Shuaib Belgore, praised the initiative as a critical step toward realising the Ministry’s broader vision for inclusive and affordable housing. They noted that the application of these technologies will not only reduce costs but also generate local employment, empower skilled artisans, and speed up project timelines across both urban and rural areas.
The Ministry also emphasized the importance of further research and development. Egwudale was encouraged to refine the innovation, produce a detailed implementation framework, and present brick-based housing prototypes for integration into the Social Housing Programme.
This shift toward locally driven housing solutions marks a significant stride in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit by building not just homes, but a self-reliant and empowered housing sector.
