WhatsApp or SMS: 07087083227
Click here to Get The Complete Research Project Chapter 1-5

Full Project – Assessment of the prospects and problems of the use of some local building materials in Nigeria

Click here to Get this Complete Project Chapter 1-5

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The term local building material has generated many arguments in housing study and in the construction industries. The major bone of contention is the word “Local”. For instance, when does a material become local? Is it where is it produce, is it technology involved in the use or arrangement of it, is it method of production or is it when it crosses an international or refuses to cross international boundary? Would one be right to refer building materials coming from Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and other surrounding Africa countries as Local or non Local building materials?. When instance a firm in Nigeria buys a bricks making machine from Italy and uses the machine for the production of exactly the same stuff of bricks they produce in Italy or Iran, is such product still local?

In some areas clay bricks are generally considered as local materials while sand crate block is not but when one consider the fact that sand crate block produced at just above every street corner with sand dug up from just about every river bank, it is hard therefore to see how much more local a material can be. These are the worries of experts housing and building industries and these issues need further classifications. A large number of housing experts believe that the local building materials serves as good alternatives in housing construction and that the use of when will go a long way in ameliorating the shortage of housing in developing countries thereby reducing importation and cut down overall cost. However there has not been intensive emperical cost comparison between the locally made and the so called local materials compare favorable well with the imported building materials.

The use of local building materials in Nigeria has long been recognized as a potential avenue for addressing the nation’s housing deficit and promoting sustainable development. Materials such as mud, laterite, bamboo, and palm kernel shells have been widely used in traditional construction and are being reevaluated for modern applications. According to Onwudiwe and Ihenacho (2017), the integration of local materials not only offers economic benefits by reducing the reliance on imported materials but also contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage and the environment. Studies by Olotuah and Ogunsemi (2015) further emphasize the potential for these materials to provide cost-effective solutions to housing shortages, particularly in rural areas where conventional construction materials are often inaccessible or unaffordable. The abundant availability of these materials, such as laterite and clay, makes them viable alternatives to cement and steel, which are both expensive and environmentally taxing.

Despite the promising prospects, several challenges hinder the widespread adoption of local building materials in Nigeria. A key concern is the lack of standardization and quality control in the production and use of these materials. Research by Othman and Ahmed (2020) highlights the inconsistencies in the strength, durability, and thermal properties of materials like mud and bamboo when used in construction. This variability can lead to safety issues, especially in regions prone to heavy rains or seismic activity. Additionally, the lack of technical expertise and proper training in the use of these materials poses a barrier to their effective implementation (Olotuah & Ogunsemi, 2015). The absence of robust regulatory frameworks for local materials also contributes to this problem, leading to the use of substandard materials in construction projects.

There is no concuss on the definition of the term “Local Building Materials” the reason being that some scholars argue along the line that all materials available and produced with the country can be referred to as local building materials, while others argue differently. With this in mind, there are endless list of them what can be called local building materials. For purpose of this study however, one can consider the list below and those in the appendix as such. Whatever the argument, the consensus of these arguments is that when every country gets involved in the production of one building material or the other, base on comparative advantages, there is no doubt that countries of the world will have large markets to buy from and this will be better for the housing development globally.

Furthermore, social and cultural factors can influence the adoption of local building materials in Nigeria. While some communities have embraced the use of locally sourced materials due to their economic and environmental advantages, there remains a stigma associated with non-modern building techniques, particularly in urban areas. A study by Ezeh and Okafor (2019) found that people often prefer imported materials like cement and concrete due to perceptions of higher prestige and durability. To overcome these cultural biases, there is a need for greater public awareness and education about the benefits of local materials, alongside the development of policies that encourage their use in both public and private construction projects. As emphasized by Ugochukwu (2021), the future of local building materials in Nigeria lies in the ability to balance modern construction needs with traditional practices while ensuring sustainability and safety.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It has been observe that most builders have a grater preferences to foreign building material to locally made building material because of it is locally made with no or little specification (problem and prospects of the building material). This research therefore, will examine the usage of local building materials in Nigeria and also find out the factors affecting the use of local building materials for building construction.

Nigeria is currently grappling with a significant housing deficit, which has been exacerbated by rapid urbanization, population growth, and the high costs of conventional building materials like cement and steel. Despite the potential of locally sourced building materials—such as mud, laterite, bamboo, and palm kernel shells—being available in abundance, their use in modern construction remains limited. The continued reliance on imported materials has contributed to a rising construction cost, which further marginalizes low-income groups and exacerbates the housing crisis. However, while the availability of these local materials is not in question, their underutilization highlights a deeper problem: the lack of adequate research, standardization, and infrastructure to support their widespread adoption in mainstream construction practices. As such, there is a need to explore the constraints to the effective use of local building materials in Nigeria, with the goal of identifying barriers and solutions that could lead to more sustainable and affordable housing options.

The challenges of using local materials in Nigeria are multifaceted, involving both technical and socio-economic factors. A primary issue is the inconsistent quality and performance of materials such as mud, bamboo, and laterite when used in modern construction. These materials often lack standardization, which affects their durability, strength, and safety in comparison to conventional materials like cement and concrete. In many cases, traditional knowledge about the properties of these materials has been lost or is not sufficiently integrated into modern engineering practices. Moreover, the lack of well-established testing and certification processes for local materials leaves room for substandard practices, which undermines their credibility and acceptance among developers and end-users. This problem is compounded by limited technical expertise and training among local builders and architects in the correct use of these materials for contemporary building designs, which further discourages their adoption.

In addition to technical and professional challenges, there are significant cultural and perceptual barriers to the use of local building materials. In urban areas, the preference for modern, imported materials is deeply ingrained, with many people viewing them as symbols of higher status, wealth, and modernity. This perception contributes to the limited acceptance of local materials, even when they may be more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. Furthermore, there is often little incentive for builders and construction firms to adopt local materials due to the perceived risks associated with innovation and the lack of government policies that actively promote their use. Without appropriate awareness campaigns, regulatory frameworks, and incentives, local materials will continue to be sidelined in favor of expensive imported alternatives, perpetuating the cycle of high construction costs and insufficient housing supply. Therefore, there is an urgent need for comprehensive research into the prospects and problems associated with the use of local building materials in Nigeria to inform policy, promote sustainable construction practices, and alleviate the housing challenges in the country.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1.3.1 Aim

To assess the problem and prospect in the use of some local building materials in Nigeria.

1.3.2 Objective

In order to achieve the above aim, the following specific objectives will be pursued;

To identify the problem in the use of some local building materials in Nigeria
To identify the prospects in the use of some local building materials in Nigeria.

To study the impact in the use of some local building material in Nigeria.

To suggest remedies to problems in the use of some local building materials in Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

The resource has decided to formulate source research question that will help to aim vital information on the problems and prospects in the use of local building materials in Owerri. Questions include:

What are the problems in the use of some local building materials in Nigeria?
What are the prospects in the use of some local building materials in Nigeria?

What are the impacts in the use of some local building materials in Nigeria?

What are your suggestions to the remedies to the problems in the use of some local building materials in Nigeria?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research study is design to critically assess the problems and prospects in the use of some local building materials in Nigeria, which has given concern to building industry. This project will be of great significance to:

Employing local materials has an advantage of reducing the major environmental consequences of long-distance transport of materials. Efforts to use locally available materials, in particular large materials like stones and concrete, will drastically reduce energy use and emissions
This project provides solutions and remedy to thermal insulation, while building with local material.

Importantly, by using local materials the amount of transported materials used in the project has been decreased substantially.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of case study consists of the analysis based on the problems and prospects in the use of some local building materials. The type of materials, problems, and prospects will be determined through the analysis and assessment and identification the types of remedial work has been done.

LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint: insufficient fund tends impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (Questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint: the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted the research work.
- DEFINITION OF STUDY

Construction defect: is generally defined as a defect in the design, the workmanship and or in the materials or system used on a project that result in a failure of a component part of a building or structure and causes damage to person or property, usually resulting in financial harm to the owner.

Building: or edifice is a structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory.

Developing economy: also called a less developed economy or undeveloped country is a nation with an undeveloped industrial base, and a low human development index (HDI) relative to other countries.

Foundation: is the element of a structure which connects it to the ground, and transfers load from the structure to the ground

Housing: refers to house or buildings collectively; accommodation of people; planning or provision of accommodation by an authority; and related meanings.

Local building material: are locally available materials of a region like timber, stone, sand, etc. are considered as local materials. In various green building certifications use of local materials increase the project’s sustainable quotients and lead to some point gain.

Project: planned set of interrelated tasks to be executed over a fixed period and within certain cost and other limitations.

Public housing: is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owed by a government authority, which may be central or local.

Publics: are groups of individual people, and the public is the totality of such groupings.

Get the Complete Project

This is a premium project material and the complete research project plus questionnaires and references can be gotten at an affordable rate of N3,000 for Nigerian clients and $8 for international clients.

Click here to Get this Complete Project Chapter 1-5

You can also check other Research Project here: