High cost of building materials driving housing deficit, says NIOB boss

The President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Builder Gbenga Tijani Shuaib , has said over 17milion Nigerians presently suffers from housing deficit as result of high cost of building materials.

At this year’s building exhibition tagged Building Construction and Machinery Exhibition (BUILDMACEX) held at the Eko Hotel& Suites, to showcase some quality building materials, Tijani said failure of the past governments to provide affordable housing for Nigerians has made living conditions difficult for the people.

He added that increase in the prices of building materials has also made it difficult for Nigerians to
build their own houses. “There are deficit in housing but there are many factors responsible for it.

Since 2014, the statistics has shown there are 17milion housing deficit in Nigeria. Successive government has been trying to breach that gap.

This present government has said they are going to provide housing for 100,000 people but I believe they can do it if they really want to. But my worry is that recently there has been increase in the prices of building materials so one wonders how government will be able to build low cost affordable housing for all. Some years back, a two bedroom house can be built at the cost of N1.5million but now it cost over N3milionfor importers, “he said.

He added: “It is now worse because the exchange rate for dollars has increase. It is for the government to bring down the price of dollars which will help to bring down the cost of housing.” He further said to curtail incessant cases of building collapse; government must ensure the enforcement of laws governing construction of buildings.

He also blamed some building engineers, architects and surveyors for using substandard products in building construction.

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