Over the past 10 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the costs of building materials in Nigeria, and this development no doubt has continued to threaten the performance of the construction industry. To this end, the Hon. Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has charged the Nigerian Building & Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to source more locally developed construction materials which will help address the challenges facing the construction industry in the country.
Dr. Onu gave this charge during his opening remark at the 10th NBRRI International Conference holding in Abuja with the theme “Circular Economy in the Built Environment for Enhanced Performance of the Nigerian Construction Industry”.
According to the Honourable Minister, the construction sector forms an important aspect of the nation’s economy and must be given relevance in other to drive the actualization of a circular economy in the construction Industry.
Dr. Onu who lamented on the high level of resources the country spends on the importation of bitumen for road construction stressed the need of finding a lasting solution to the challenges by encouraging the use of concrete in road construction
The Minister who also revealed that Nigeria has one of the largest deposits of bitumen sand cut across four states of the federation said that bitumen deposit in the country is over 42 billion barrels; out of which has as many as 43 industrial chemicals which can be obtained from it.
The Science Minister, therefore, called for more private investment towards the production of bitumen in the country, promised that the government will provide an enabling environment for these investors; plus other incentives.
His words: “We have to bring in the private sector to invest in local bitumen production. All necessary incentives should be provided for this to happen as we cannot have huge deposit bitumen sand in our country and we continue to import bitumen from other countries. This does not make sense and cannot be allowed to continue.
“The business people who currently import bitumen into the country should consider investing in local bitumen production. When this happens, they can help meet our local demands in the country and their excess can be exported to other countries to further strengthen our economy,” – He posited.
The One-time governor of old Abia State further thanked the current management of NBRRI under the distinctive leadership of Prof. Samson Duna for his remarkable achievement in the past two years; as he has in no doubt contributed to nation-building.
According to him: “I am happy that NBRRI through its research and innovation is working very hard to save foreign exchange earnings and encourage job creation through the use of locally available raw materials”
Dr. Onu, therefore, reiterated the Ministry’s support towards the findings and resolution that the conference will put forward which he believes will be of best interest to the nation’s construction industry.
In his address, the Minister of State, Science, and Technology, Bar. Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi buttresses the need for stakeholders in the construction industry to take advantage of the forum in getting acquainted with the latest trends in the construction industry which will in turn help address the issues of building collapse, erosion, and persistent flooding as experienced in recent times.
He, therefore, urged participants to take the message of the conference seriously in fulfillment of their role as developmental partners to the nation.
In his goodwill message, Dr. Akpan Edet, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology described the theme of the conference as a child of necessity especially as it will addressing contemporary issues that border around the circular economy, smart city development, and other discussions around the construction industry.
The Permanent Secretary further appreciated the Management of NBBRI for bringing industry experts together to dialogue developmental issues not minding the obstacles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Challenges posed by an increase in the price of the Cement
In a related development, the Chairman House Committee on Science Research Institute, Hon. Olaide Akinremi while fielding questions from Newsmen on the challenges posed by the high price of cement in the construction industry said that the Legislative arm was working round the clock to address and find lasting solutions to the issue of increase in the price of cement.
The lawmaker who also noted that the country was open to new investors coming into the country said that his committee is already looking at other options of cement as part of its diversification strategy in the building sector.
Similarly, the Immediate past Director General of NBRRI, Prof. Danladi Matawali who described the hike in cement price as detrimental to the nation’s quest for affordable housing, called on Nigerians to take advantage of other substitutes of cement.
The Former DG also argued that inflation has been a major contributor to cement pricing in the country.
The opening ceremony of the 10th NBRRI International Conference saw notable guest dignitaries, industry experts, and stakeholders within Nigeria and abroad grace the occasion.
The forum is expected to put forward recommendations needed to drive the construction industry forward in accordance with the vision of the President Buhari-led administration.
