Lagos, Nigeria – At the BusinessDay Sustainable Building Conference, industry leaders sounded the alarm on Nigeria’s unsustainable construction practices, responsible for 40% of global carbon emissions, and proposed urgent solutions to transform the sector.
Key Challenges Highlighted
Skill Gaps: Artisans lack training in eco-friendly techniques (e.g., laterite blocks, solar installation)
Cost Myths: Perception that green buildings are prohibitively expensive despite long-term savings
Policy Void: No national Green Building Code, unlike Ghana/South Africa
Proposed Solutions
Artisan Upskilling: Government/industry-funded workshops for contractors and builders
Local Materials: Promote laterite, bamboo, and recycled concrete to cut emissions
Regulatory Push: Draft a Nigerian Green Building Code with REDAN and NESREA
Solar Parallel: Replicate solar energy’s cost-success story in construction
Rita Bolusemihi (Green Building Expert):
“A bricklayer trained only in sandcrete blocks can’t deliver sustainability. We must bring artisans into the green conversation.”
REDAN President Akintoye Adeoye:
“With Nigeria set to become the world’s 3rd most populous nation, building sustainably isn’t optional—it’s survival.”
Why This Matters
• Health: Toxic emissions from informal sectors (e.g., roadside vulcanizing) cause respiratory diseases
• Economics: Green buildings cut energy/water costs by 30% and create jobs
• Global Alignment: Meets Nigeria’s 2060 net-zero pledge under the Paris Agreement
