A major step toward lowering the cost of housing construction in Nigeria is underway, as plans have been finalized to establish a dedicated building materials hub within the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.
The initiative, covering 200 hectares of land, is expected to drive down production costs, boost local content, and strengthen domestic manufacturing of essential building inputs.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, disclosed the plan on Thursday during an inspection tour of industrial clusters in the Lekki and Lagos Free Zones, which form part of the wider ecosystem connected to the Lekki Deep Sea Port. His tour included visits to housing projects, industrial sites, materials testing laboratories, Alaro City, Lagos Coastal City, and the seaport.
According to Dangiwa, the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and will be replicated across the six geopolitical zones, with Lagos serving as the pioneer location.
“The building materials hub will promote local content, curb rising costs of materials, encourage domestic production, and ensure sustainable housing delivery nationwide,” he said.
The minister revealed that an investor has already been secured for the project, which is expected to generate jobs, reduce dependence on imported materials, and help close Nigeria’s housing deficit. He also emphasized that intermodal infrastructure linking the seaport, airport, rail, and road networks would enhance the hub’s efficiency.
During his visit to Alaro City, Dangiwa commended the developers for adopting sustainable building practices that complement the federal government’s drive to expand affordable housing through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
The Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investments Ltd, Adeniyi Akinlusi, welcomed the project and highlighted the 16,500-hectare Lekki Free Trade Zone as a catalyst for investment, job creation, and real estate development. “The whole zone is Nigeria’s best-kept investment secret,” he noted.
Industry leaders also showcased power plants, factories, and other projects within the zone, reinforcing the area’s role as a growing hub of industrial and real estate activities.
