The Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Kogi State Chapter, has called for practical action to address Nigeria’s housing challenges, urging professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders to promote affordable housing and greater use of indigenous building materials.

The call was made at the 2026 World Architecture Day and Annual General Meeting of the NIA, Kogi State Chapter, where stakeholders examined ways of translating the recognition of housing as a human right into practical housing solutions.

The Chairman of the Occasion, Arc. Kayode Oloninisi, Ph.D, FNIA, said the theme of the celebration, “Housing is a Human Right. Build It,” provided an opportunity for architects and other built-environment professionals to move beyond discussions and focus on solutions that could deliver decent, affordable and accessible homes to Nigerians.

Oloninisi, who was represented at the event by Associate Professor Okwenya Sunday, Head of the Department of Architecture at the Federal University Lokoja, said adequate housing was fundamental to human welfare and national development.

He noted that housing, alongside food and clothing, remained one of the basic needs of humanity, providing physical protection while also contributing to health, dignity, emotional security and overall wellbeing.

According to him, the theme adopted by the International Union of Architects (UIA) also reinforces the recognition of adequate housing under international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Oloninisi commended the Kogi State Chapter of the NIA for designing a programme that examined practical architectural, planning, financing and policy approaches to the housing challenges facing residents of the state.

He also praised the chapter for bringing together professionals to examine the theme from different perspectives and encouraged participants to use the event to strengthen professional development, networking and collaboration within the built environment.

Architects push indigenous building materials

The call for practical action was reinforced by the Chairman of the Kogi State Chapter of the NIA, Arc. John O. Attah, MNIA.

Attah said the chapter deliberately selected the theme, “Exploiting Indigenous Building Techniques and Materials as a Sustainable Solution to our Housing Deficit,” to draw attention to the potential of locally available resources in addressing Nigeria’s housing shortage.

He argued that Nigeria could no longer afford excessive dependence on imported building materials while millions of Nigerians continued to face difficulties accessing affordable housing.

According to him, the country has abundant raw materials that can be developed and used in construction through stronger collaboration between government, academic institutions, researchers, professionals, private investors and local communities.

He identified stabilised compressed earth blocks, bamboo composites, laterite-based finishes and pozzolana among the indigenous or locally adaptable technologies and materials that could help reduce construction costs while responding to Nigeria’s climatic and economic conditions.

Attah said the wider adoption of such materials could also generate economic benefits beyond housing.

He said local production could create employment opportunities for young people and artisans, support local manufacturing, expand mining and processing value chains, stimulate economic activity and reduce pressure on foreign exchange.

He therefore called on architects to take the lead in promoting indigenous construction solutions.

According to him, professionals should engage government on policies that support local materials, work with academic institutions on research, encourage private-sector investment and involve communities in accepting and adopting locally developed construction technologies.

Attah also assured that the Kogi State Chapter would continue to promote sustainable, affordable and locally driven housing solutions.

He urged architects to design, specify and supervise the appropriate use of indigenous materials in construction projects.

Housing costs remain a major concern

The discussions at the event come amid wider concerns over the rising cost of housing construction in Nigeria.

Stakeholders in the housing sector have repeatedly linked high construction costs to expensive building materials, limited access to affordable finance and other development constraints.

Earlier housing-sector discussions have similarly called for greater adoption of locally produced materials, arguing that increased local production could reduce construction costs, conserve foreign exchange and create jobs.

The use of indigenous materials has also been identified as an important part of efforts to reduce dependence on imported construction inputs.

The Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute has previously developed materials and technologies including pozzolana, interlocking block-making machines and fibre-reinforced roofing materials, although commercialisation and mass production have remained challenges.

The NIA’s Kogi Chapter is therefore calling for stronger links between research, policy, investment and actual construction so that locally developed technologies can move beyond research and pilot stages into wider housing delivery.

Five professionals examine housing solutions

The World Architecture Day programme featured presentations and discussions involving five professionals who examined the housing theme from different perspectives.

They included Arc. Dr. Mohammad Adamu, MNIA; Arc. Isah Obenege Suleiman, MNIA; Arc. Dr. Jibrin Olanusi, MNIA; Bdr. Adoke Ismaila Ibrahim, MNIOB; and Bdr. Aisha Oruma-Sylvanus, MNIOB.

Oloninisi encouraged participants to engage with the presentations and discussions and use the platform to develop collaborations that could contribute to improvements in the built environment.

The discussions ultimately centred on the need to turn the recognition of housing as a basic human need into practical delivery strategies.

For the NIA Kogi State Chapter, that includes promoting indigenous construction technologies, strengthening local production and encouraging policies and investment that can make decent housing more affordable to Nigerians.

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Nigeria’s housing and built environment sectors are under renewed scrutiny as industry leaders call for stricter regulation, professional oversight, and innovative solutions to the nation’s housing deficit.

Speaking on the growing incidence of fraudulent developers, Akintoye Adeoye, President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), said tackling unethical practices requires a multi-faceted approach, including enforcement of ethics, the establishment of the Real Estate Regulatory Council of Nigeria (RECON), and collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to protect investments.

Adeoye highlighted key challenges confronting private developers, including bureaucratic bottlenecks in land administration, indiscriminate demolitions, high financing costs, lack of long-term mortgage options, poor infrastructure, and over-reliance on imported building materials. He urged the government to streamline land titling, recapitalize the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), and support local building materials production to make homeownership more accessible.

Meanwhile, Lagos residents continue to grapple with soaring rents, with increases of 80–100 percent reported across the city. Despite this, some neighborhoods remain relatively affordable. According to Daily Trust, areas such as Ikorodu, Agege, Alagbado, Egbeda, Ikotun/Igando, Ojo, Mushin, and Ajegunle offer housing options suitable for low- and middle-income earners, though accessibility and safety remain considerations for residents. Real estate expert Ganiyu Idris advised renters to prioritize proximity to workplaces to minimize commuting costs.

In addition, the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) has warned against unlicensed practitioners in the built environment. Outgoing President Mobolaji Adeniyi and incoming President Sani Saulawa emphasized that unregistered individuals compromise structural integrity and public safety. Adeniyi noted that architecture contributes about 6% of Nigeria’s GDP, approximately N6.17 trillion annually, while Saulawa stressed that investigations into building collapses rarely involve certified architects. The institute plans to strengthen public awareness, enforce professional ethics, and improve regulatory oversight.

The call for reforms comes as Nigeria seeks to expand housing stock, promote affordable homeownership, and ensure sustainable urban development. Experts argue that integrated efforts involving government, professional associations, and the private sector are critical to addressing the country’s housing crisis.

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NIA national President, Arc Mobolaji A. Adeniyi, disclosed this when he led a delegation of the executive council of the institute to the state to commiserate with the state Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, over the devastating flood incidence.

She also said they have donated some money to help cushion the flood effect.

According to her, “Additionally, I assured the Governor that the NIA is available to offer Professional Services to the Government and, where possible, provide some pro-bono architectural services to assist in the ongoing reconstruction projects.

“This demonstrates our commitment to aiding the state’s recovery. We are here for the long haul, ready to lend our expertise and support to ensure a brighter future for Borno,” the President added.

Responding, Governor Zulum commended the institute for the donation and the professional support offer towards rebuilding the collapsed buildings affected by the flood.

The Governor also asked the institute to consider building more schools of architecture in the state to promote local expertise.

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Adeniyi made the call on Sunday in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, during her post-inauguration ceremony as the 30th president of the NIA. She attributed the loss of lives and property due to building collapse to the engagement of unqualified individuals, also known as quacks, to handle construction projects.

“We have seen a lot of buildings collapsed in Nigeria because professionals were not involved in the process leading to the implementation of such projects,” Adeniyi stated.

She emphasized the crucial role of architects in the building industry, explaining that their involvement is essential from the inception of a project to its completion. Architects design and supervise construction projects to ensure that they adhere to global standards and are structurally sound.

READ ALSO: Housing Sector Stakeholders in Nigeria Urged to Collaborate for Improved Standards

“When every building has an architect, qualified engineers, and all other related professionals handling these projects, we will not be having incidents of building collapse,” she asserted.

Adeniyi pledged the NIA’s commitment to working closely with the government to ensure that registered architects are engaged for all construction projects, regardless of their size or scope. She also expressed confidence in the competence of Nigerian architects, stating that there is no need to bring in foreign architects as the country has a pool of qualified professionals capable of handling any project effectively.

In addition to addressing building collapse, Adeniyi also highlighted the challenges faced by architects in Nigeria, particularly the shortage of architects in planning departments across the country. She stressed the need for all 774 local governments in Nigeria to have qualified and registered architects on staff to approve construction drawings.

Adeniyi further called for greater recognition and patronage of architects by all tiers of government, corporate organizations, and individuals. She emphasized that every architect in Nigeria is trained and licensed to carry out their duties, and their expertise is crucial for ensuring safe and sustainable construction practices.

Source: Tribune Newspaper

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