The current annual urbanization rate stands at 4.32%, while Nigeria has experienced consistent economic growth averaging 8% over the past decade. Following the rebasing in 2014, Nigeria emerged as the second-largest economy in Africa. However, recent economic growth has slowed, and the country has just emerged from a recession, with expectations of 1% growth in 2017 and 2.5% in 2018. The rapid urbanization rate, along with economic and population growth estimated at 2.6% per annum, are key factors exerting pressure on the housing sector and driving demand for housing and investment in Nigeria. The housing deficit is estimated to be as high as 17 million units, particularly in major cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Warri.
Nigeria is faced with the consequences of increased urbanization, resulting in the emergence of various urban centers. While there are both positive and negative impacts of urbanization, the negative effects, particularly the housing deficit, disproportionately affect the urban population. Many of these challenges stem from the increasing unaffordability of housing for the majority of the population. Instead of introducing new policies, Nigeria’s focus should be on effective implementation of existing ones, particularly at this crucial juncture.
Sustainable development aims to ensure that people worldwide can meet their present basic needs while preserving resources for future generations. It recognizes the interconnectedness of the economy, society, and the environment. Sustainable development entails utilizing renewable resources in a manner that does not deplete or degrade them, ensuring their usefulness for future generations while maintaining constant or non-declining stocks of natural resources.
In terms of environmental sustainability, there is a need for programs to achieve sustainable physical development in less developed regions. Nigeria has demonstrated efforts in this regard through the utilization of indigenous construction materials and techniques, such as building with bottles, containers, stabilized earth, and interlocking dry construction.
Approaches in Sustainable Construction Practices
1. Industrialized Buildings
Industrialization involves the efficient organization of labor, equipment, materials, and other resources, surpassing traditional craft-oriented methods. Industrialized buildings take various forms, including panelized (2D), modular (3D), containers, or mobile housing units. It is predicted that most buildings in the coming decades will incorporate this technology. Therefore, architects and builders will play a crucial role in advancing national transformation through industrialization.
2. Relief Housing
Housing citizens is a fundamental social service that governments must provide. However, the inadequacy in both the quality and quantity of housing in Nigeria shows the government’s failure to fulfill this obligation. To complement government efforts, architects and builders play a vital role in providing relief housing units to victims in cases of violence, insecurity, fires, collapsed buildings, or other man-made or natural disasters. Materials utilized for relief housing include polystyrenes, 3D-printed houses, and prefabricated structures.
3. Low-Cost Housing
It is evident that low-income earners in Nigeria have long endured harsh housing and environmental conditions, often residing in substandard environments lacking basic infrastructure and services. Architects and builders can contribute by developing a functional approach to establish a foundational information base for formulating effective mass low-cost housing options for the poor. This involves providing guidelines for planning, design, construction, supervision, and maintenance of low-cost housing to improve living conditions for marginalized communities.
4. Emergence of New Construction Materials
In Nigerian construction sites, traditional materials like steel, timber, concrete, and stones are commonly used. However, advancements in technology have introduced composite building materials and petrochemical compounds such as polystyrene, propylene, polyester, and recycled wood materials like cork. Architects and builders play a crucial role in selecting the appropriate materials tailored to specific functions, contributing to national transformation.
5. Emergence of New Construction Methods
A construction crew in Changsha, China, recently completed a 15-storey hotel building in just six days, showcasing innovative construction methods. The hotel featured prefabricated materials, triple-glazed plastic windows, lightweight steel construction, thermal insulation, external solar shading, heat recovery systems, and LED lighting, designed to withstand earthquakes. Architects and builders in Nigeria can leverage such cutting-edge technology for positive national transformation.
6. Eco-Friendly/Green House
The intensifying interaction between humans and the environment shows the need for more environmentally conscious construction practices. Designers and constructors should prioritize reducing, reusing, and recycling renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, tide, and water) and other resources efficiently.
7. Economic Benefits and Good Governance
Modular construction offers economic benefits, including job creation and stimulating economic growth. Good governance plays a crucial role in directing resources effectively towards infrastructure development, which is essential for democratic governance. Education levels, particularly in relation to poverty, are also critical for inclusive development. Increased literacy rates contribute to poverty reduction by raising awareness of current trends and opportunities.
8. Public and Private Participation
Encouraging public and private participation can unlock potential and address challenges in infrastructure development. This collaboration is vital for delivering low-cost housing and ensuring construction projects meet global standards for longevity and functionality.
Innovative and Technological Solutions for Construction
Innovative problem-solving in construction is evident across various aspects such as site planning, architectural design, landscaping, floor planning, detailing, construction technology, materials, and methods. This particularly emphasizes floor planning and behavioral and organic architecture. Therefore, it is essential to educate a new generation of environmentalists in designing affordable housing. The use of modular elements in building construction adheres to standardized patterns in size, shape, and scale. Looking ahead to improve construction processes in Nigeria, modular coordination systems offer opportunities for enhanced efficiency, cost-effectiveness, waste reduction, and accelerated construction in industrialized infrastructure development utilizing IBS (Industrialized Building Systems).
