In a bold step toward tackling Nigeria’s housing deficit and rising construction costs, the Federal Government has unveiled a suite of indigenous technologies aimed at driving down building expenses and promoting sustainable housing development across the country.
The presentation, held at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development headquarters in Abuja, saw Arc. Ibechile Christopher Egwudale, Director and Head of the Department of Federal Public Assets Maintenance, showcase a range of locally engineered manual and semi-automated construction machines. These tools, developed entirely with Nigerian resources and expertise, are designed to revolutionize how low- and middle-income housing is delivered nationwide.
The technologies on display included interlocking Compressed Earth Block (CEB) moulders, sandcrete mixers, pulverisers, sifting machines, and agro-processing tools such as ogbono seed cutters and hammer mills. These machines, Egwudale explained, are capable of reducing construction timelines and costs while promoting environmentally friendly building practices.
“These machines leverage locally sourced materials to deliver sustainable and budget-friendly housing solutions. They are designed to empower artisans, create jobs, and promote eco-friendly building practices using CEB technology,” Egwudale stated.
The Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, lauded the innovation, describing it as a timely breakthrough in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for affordable housing delivery.
Dangiwa, who closely inspected the machines during the live demonstration, commended Egwudale’s commitment and innovation. He further directed the submission of a detailed implementation strategy, emphasizing that such locally-driven initiatives could be seamlessly integrated into the federal government’s Social Housing Programme.
“We are focused on delivering affordable housing without compromising on quality. Innovations like these are the future of our sector. They empower communities, reduce dependence on expensive imports, and build capacity among our youth and artisans,” Dangiwa said.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, echoed similar sentiments. He praised Egwudale’s ingenuity and passion, calling on him to submit prototype models of affordable brick housing units for further evaluation.
“This innovation is a strategic push toward self-reliance and cost-effective housing delivery. At a time when global inflation is making access to building materials more difficult, solutions like these are critical for expanding housing access, especially for low- and middle-income Nigerians,” Belgore noted.
Egwudale’s inventions aim to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on expensive imported construction technologies. By using compressed earth blocks — a proven method in sustainable construction — the machines provide a practical solution to the spiraling costs of cement-based construction, which has been a major obstacle for affordable housing developers in the country.
The innovation is also expected to generate employment by equipping local artisans and technicians with skills to fabricate and use the machines, thereby boosting local content and technological self-sufficiency in Nigeria’s housing sector.
Stakeholders in the housing sector say the development marks a turning point for affordable housing in Nigeria. With a housing deficit estimated at over 17 million units and building material prices continuing to rise, experts believe that adopting such indigenous innovations can drastically reduce construction costs by up to 30%, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
The machines will also promote green building principles, as compressed earth blocks require less energy to produce and have better insulation properties, making homes more energy-efficient.
Real estate developers, policy advocates, and urban planners are already urging the federal government to fast-track the commercial production and distribution of the machines, while also integrating them into major housing schemes like the National Housing Programme and the Renewed Hope Cities initiative.
If fully embraced and scaled, Egwudale’s machines could become a game-changer — positioning Nigeria as a continental leader in affordable and sustainable housing innovation.