Don't Miss


Home   >   Housing   >   Nigeria needs N60tn for housing – Minister

Nigeria needs N60tn for housing – Minister

By on June 4, 2014

The supervising Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has announced that a cheap alternative to cement was being developed to meet Nigeria’s 17 million housing deficit estimated to cost N59.5 trillion.

She stated this yesterday at the opening ceremony of a three-day international housing summit organised by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, (NBRRI), in Abuja.

Johnson described the research into Pozzolana cement as an alternative to the hitherto conventional Portland cement as a major success under the Director-General of NBRRI, Prof. Danladi S. Mattawal.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms. Winifred Eyo-Ita, said: “A World Bank estimate puts it that over N59.5 trillion will be required to bridge the gap of some 17 million units of housing deficit even though I have been informed that this conference will also set out to establish authentic figures of the housing shortages in the country.

“Researchers have noted that Nigeria, with an estimated population of 170 million, requires at least additional 820,000 housing units per annum (based on an estimated nine dwelling units a year per 1,000 of population) to meet rising demands and replenishing decaying stock.”

On the development of the alternative to cement known as Ponzzolana, she stated: “The NBRRI interlocking cement stabilised earth blocks (ICSEBs) technology has the capacity to provide alternative building blocks which is durable and environmentally and user-friendly. This technology is gradually receiving acceptance and is still undergoing R and D activity for improvement and modifications to meet global standards as NBRRI is not resting on its oars.”

According to her, Pozzolana cement was made from locally sourced  meterials resterial, and readily available raw materials with cementing properties which serve as partial replacement for conventional cement.

“Pozzolanas are known to have the advantage of being more eco-friendly and sustainable as their production process entails less harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

“It is certainly heart-warming to know that the pilot plant for Pozzolana is at an advanced stage of completion at NBRRI NLC, Ota, Ogun State. That will be a major leap toward augmenting Nigeria’s alternative cement needs, a veritable consequence of reduction in costs of construction of houses and infrastructure,” the minister said.

She therefore commended efforts of NBRRI under the leadership of the director-general for the great successes recorded under his stewardship. The minister explained that NBRRI was one of the ministry’s esteemed parastatals whose mandates and R&D output had a direct relevance in providing affordable housing and infrastructure to Nigerians.
Prof. Mattawal also unveiled an international journal on building of roads and infrastructure.

He vowed to ensure that the exact number of the shortfall in housing in the country would be made known during the conference, with the theme: ‘Achieving Affordable Housing in Nigeria’.

 

[This Day]