The Director General of the the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Prof Danladi Matawal on Thursday called on stakeholders in the built environment industry to take the advantage of its research and innovation into locally produced building and road construction materials in order to maximise cost.
He made the call in Lokoja in a presentation at the ongoing 3rd Kogi Built Environment and Building Materials Exhibition (BEBM) holding in Lokoja with the theme: "Indigenous Building Materials: An Alternative Approach to Housing shortage in a Recessed Economy".
"At a time like this when we talking about Nigeria in recession; then we have to think of cheaper alternatives and ways we can go about putting our infrastructure in place and NBRRI has really done a lot when you talk about affordable and cheaper materials in the building and road sectors.
"In the building sector for instance, we have these interlocking blocks which we use for walling. We also have the bamboo sheets which have been processed and can be used for floor, partitioning, roofing and ceiling.
"We have also come up with pozollama cement which is a partial replacement for cement. The cost is far cheaper than cement. These are some of the innovations which those in the built industry can take advantage,” he said.
Matawal, who was represented by Daniel Makana, Consultancy and Extension Services Department of the Institute, said the ‘NBRR Day’ at the event was set aside to create awareness on the mandate and activities of the institute.
Earlier in his address, Oladipo Bayode, the Executive Director, BEBM Exhibition, said that the exhibition was a gathering of tradesmen, manufacturers and suppliers of building materials, government, private practitioners and policy makers.
According to him, the idea was to develop models capable of reducing construction costs and other related products, as a serious alternative, particularly during economic recession.
He advocated for free taxation and reforms in the electricity sector, stressing that it was the major thing to be considered in attracting investment in local material production, if affordability was the actual focus.
He promised that the BEBM Exhibition would continue to create platform for discussion and expository on ways to reducing the cost of construction projects in Nigeria.
