The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has known as on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to introduce a 100-day emergency motion plan to scale back the rising value of constructing supplies and tackle Nigeria’s housing affordability disaster.
The organisation additionally urged the federal government to implement complete legislative and coverage reforms, together with tax aid, improved vitality provide, inexpensive financing for producers and measures to strengthen native manufacturing.
HDAN made the calls for in a particular coverage analysis report titled, “Reducing the High Cost of Building Materials in Nigeria and Across Africa: Towards Affordable Housing, Stronger Local Manufacturing and Sustainable Construction,” launched by its Research and Economic Development Unit.
The organisation warned that persistently excessive costs of important building supplies, together with cement, reinforcement metal, roofing sheets, tiles, glass, electrical fittings and plumbing supplies, had been making homeownership more and more troublesome for tens of millions of Nigerians.
Speaking on the report, HDAN Executive Director, Festus Adebayo, described the rising value of constructing supplies as a nationwide financial problem requiring pressing legislative and govt intervention.
He mentioned inexpensive housing couldn’t be achieved by way of authorities guarantees and bold housing targets with out addressing the price of building inputs.
“Housing affordability cannot be achieved through speeches, promises and ambitious housing targets alone. The cost of building materials must become a major national policy priority,” Adebayo mentioned.
He added that costly building supplies had been pushing the dream of homeownership additional away from strange Nigerians whereas discouraging funding within the housing sector.
As a part of its proposed 100-day emergency programme, HDAN known as for a nationwide evaluation of building supplies prices, an examination of producing and distribution bills, a assessment of present tax incentives and an analysis of potential competitors issues within the trade.
The organisation additionally advisable an evaluation of progress on the Federal Government’s proposed constructing supplies manufacturing hubs.
HDAN recognized costly vitality, transportation prices, international alternate pressures, excessive financing prices, insufficient industrial infrastructure and import dependence as a number of the main elements contributing to the rising costs of constructing supplies.
It urged the National Assembly, significantly its related committees on housing, trade, commerce, finance and financial growth, to conduct a complete parliamentary investigation and public listening to into the excessive value of building supplies.
According to the organisation, the investigation ought to contain cement and metal producers, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, related ministries, actual property builders, monetary establishments and housing customers.
HDAN cited figures disclosed by the FCCPC in August 2026, which indicated that Nigeria had an estimated put in cement manufacturing capability of between 60 million and 65 million metric tonnes yearly, in contrast with estimated home consumption of 25 million to 30 million tonnes.
However, the organisation acknowledged that put in manufacturing capability doesn’t essentially translate into precise output or market provide.
It due to this fact known as for an unbiased, evidence-based evaluation of the cement and metal markets to look at manufacturing effectivity, working prices, distribution preparations, competitors and pricing practices.
The group additionally proposed six main areas of reform to scale back constructing supplies prices.
These embrace a complete assessment of taxes and tariffs affecting important building supplies, focused and time-bound aid on essential manufacturing inputs, improved electrical energy and fuel provide to producers, and measures to scale back transportation and logistics prices.
Other suggestions embrace accelerated growth of constructing supplies manufacturing hubs throughout the six geopolitical zones, inexpensive long-term financing for native producers, higher funding in indigenous constructing supplies and the institution of a nationwide constructing supplies value monitoring system.
The proposed monitoring system would monitor manufacturing unit, wholesale and delivered costs of main building supplies throughout the nation to enhance market transparency and assist policymakers determine uncommon value developments.
HDAN additional known as for elevated funding in analysis, testing and commercialisation of different constructing supplies, together with stabilised earth blocks, laterite-based merchandise and prefabricated elements, whereas sustaining applicable constructing security requirements.
On financing, the organisation advisable devoted funding preparations by way of related growth finance establishments to assist native manufacturing of roofing supplies, metal elements, ceramics, glass, sanitary fittings and different building merchandise.
It additionally urged the federal government to make sure that any tax concessions or different incentives granted to producers translate into measurable advantages for customers.
“Any government incentive granted to manufacturers must produce measurable public benefits. We cannot continue to provide concessions without establishing whether they translate into reduced construction costs, increased production, more jobs and more affordable housing,” Adebayo acknowledged.
The organisation additional advocated the institution of a National Building Materials Affordability and Local Manufacturing Compact involving federal and state governments, producers, monetary establishments, building professionals, housing builders and shopper representatives.
It mentioned the proposed framework ought to set up measurable commitments on manufacturing effectivity, industrial funding, vitality provide, logistics enhancements, value transparency and inexpensive housing supply.
HDAN additionally known as for stronger regional cooperation amongst African nations in constructing supplies manufacturing, analysis, industrial financing and commerce.
The organisation cited experiences in Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania as potential sources of coverage classes on market transparency, indigenous supplies growth, industrial financing and building value monitoring.
It urged the federal government to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to enhance entry to licensed building supplies, manufacturing tools, manufacturing know-how and regional markets.
Adebayo warned that the implications of excessive constructing supplies costs prolonged past particular person homebuilders, noting that costly building inputs might delay housing tasks, discourage funding, improve growth prices and put further stress on rents.
He maintained that decreasing building prices needs to be handled as an financial growth technique able to stimulating industrial manufacturing, creating jobs and enhancing dwelling circumstances.
“Nigeria must move from merely reacting to rising cement and steel prices to implementing a deliberate national strategy for reducing construction costs,” he mentioned.
HDAN urged the management of the Senate and House of Representatives to work with the chief arm of presidency to develop a sustainable nationwide response.
The organisation additionally reaffirmed its readiness to submit its analysis report and detailed coverage suggestions to the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and different related establishments.
“The ultimate objective must not simply be cheaper cement or cheaper iron rods. It must be cheaper, safer and more accessible housing for Nigerians. That is the real measure of success,” Adebayo added.
We’ve acquired the sting. Get real-time studies, breaking scoops, and unique angles delivered straight to your cellphone. Don’t accept stale information. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for twenty-four/7 updates →
