EFFECT OF BUILDING MATERIAL COST ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
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EFFECT OF BUILDING MATERIAL COST ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
CHAPITRE ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
According to building industry researchers, building materials account for 50 to 60% of overall construction input. As a result, there is an urgent need to address the high cost of these items, which is reported to be slowing the expansion of Nigeria’s building and construction sector.
Building materials are the most expensive single input in housing development. While Adedeji (2010) noticed that building materials account for approximately sixty (60) percent of overall housing expenditure, Arayela (2005) asserted that building materials account for approximately 65 percent of construction costs.
According to Ogunsemi (2010), building materials are one of the key issues limiting the supply of housing, accounting for 50-60% of the cost of buildings. Thus, Adedeji (2002) correctly recognised that the expense of housing in Nigeria has been a major impediment to the realisation of effective housing in the country, as evidenced by consecutive government initiatives.
He contended that in the early eras of Nigerian history, housing was relatively cheap since construction materials could be obtained at little cost from the nearby environment. Technology was also widely available, as were simple procedures.
However, interaction with the outside world through interregional and international training of professionals in foreign nations brought about changes in tastes and, as a result, outlook on housing shapes.
Because of these developments, the undeveloped indigenous building materials became insufficient, while the need for exotic ones surged. As a result, Arayela (2002) asserted that the current building industry places a high value on complex building materials and procedures that are costly and energy-intensive.
Though prohibitive building material costs have clearly hampered housing delivery efforts, this problem cannot be reasonably and reliably overcome by simply relying on locally available materials without taking into account the applicable initiative, the cost of processing, and the sustainability of the local materials.
Material efficiency is one of the most critical aspects of a sustainable building. Correct building material selection can be accomplished by considering their entire life cycle and selecting items with the least amount of environmental impact. González and Navarro (2006), for example, projected that using low-impact building materials can cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 30%.
As the life-cycle of a building and its elements can be closed, the use of renewable and recycled sources is frequently recommended (Chwieduk, 2003). Costs and societal criteria like as thermal comfort, high mechanical capabilities (strength and durability), aesthetic characteristics, and the capacity to construct fast are key factors that influence the selection of building materials.
Ideally, the integration of all environmental, economic, and social elements can provide a precise description of a material, which aids in the decision-making process about the cost of building materials (Abeysundara et al., 2009). Nigerians will continue to pay more for housing in large cities until the cost of building materials is subsidised, most likely through tax cuts.
The price volatility of building supplies was attributed to high taxes, which in turn affects the cost of living in major cities across the country. According to Arayela (2002), many completed housing estates remained empty due to the high rental and selling prices associated with them in comparison to the meagre income of the average Nigerian worker.
He also stated that if the government can revitalise our industrial base, the cost of building materials will fall, allowing many more people to build homes. As a result, he encouraged the Federal Government to grant tax breaks for local building material makers and importers in order to minimise the high cost of living in major cities.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Building materials have long played a significant part in the construction industry—they are the materials used to erect or construct structures, and no discipline of engineering would be possible without their utilisation (Akanni, 2006; Udosen & Akanni, 2010). Building materials have a significant impact on the quality and cost of housing,
from the materials used in the foundation to the materials used for roofing and finishing, and the building materials industry is an important contributor to any nation’s national economy because its output governs both the rate and the quality of construction work.
The cost of building materials is a significant threat to both the construction industry and people aspiring to own homes (Anosike, 2009; Mekson, 2008; Mohammed, 2008; Njoku, 2007); for example, a bag of cement, valued at N1,350.00 in 2006, rises to N1,850.00 in 2009 (Anosike, 2009),
representing a 37% increase; the bag rises to N2,000.00 in 2015 during peak season (field survey 2015). Supporting this viewpoint, Jagboro and Owoeye (2004) previously established that increases in building material prices have multiplier effects on housing development,
while Idoro and Jolaiya (2010) confirmed that many projects were not completed on time due to rising material costs. Aside from timely completion, high building material prices are a major impediment to improving housing standards in Nigeria (United Nations Centre for Human Settlement [UNCHS], 1993).
Despite previous research on the cost of building materials in Nigeria, little is known about the implications of the cost increase on the construction industry; most literature (Jagboro & Owoeye, 2004; Mekson, 2008; Njoku, 2007; Oladipo & Oni, 2012)
has focused on identifying the causes with little emphasis on the implications; thus, the research seeks to provide information on the effect of building material cost on housing development in Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the study’s objectives:
1. To investigate the impact of building material costs on Nigerian housing development.
2. To identify the elements that contribute to the high cost of building materials in Nigeria.
3. To propose strategies to minimise the cost of construction materials in order to enable adequate housing development in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. How does the cost of building materials affect housing development in Nigeria?
2. What factors contribute to the high cost of building materials in Nigeria?
3. What are the solutions for lowering the cost of building materials in Nigeria to allow adequate housing development?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
HO: The cost of building materials has no bearing on housing development in Nigeria.
Housing development in Nigeria is influenced by the cost of building materials.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The following are the study’s implications:
1. The study’s findings will educate the general public about the present market price of building materials in Nigeria and their impact on sustainable housing development in Nigeria.
2. The findings of this study will educate policymakers and the government on the need of developing and implementing policies that will reduce the cost of building materials in Nigeria, thereby stimulating significant housing development throughout the country.
3. This research will also serve as a resource base for other academics and researchers interested in conducting additional research in this sector in the future, and if implemented, will go so far as to provide new explanations for the topic.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The present pricing of building materials in Nigeria will be covered in this study on the effect of building materials cost on housing development in Nigeria, with a focus on how it has influenced the availability of affordable housing for the Nigerian populous.
STUDY LIMITATIONS
Financial constraint- A lack of funds tends to restrict the researcher’s efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data collection procedure (internet, questionnaire, and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will conduct this investigation alongside other academic activities. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.
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