To address project delays, cost overruns and Nigeria’s widening housing deficit, the Country Director of Elan Exhibitions West Africa, Jude Chime, has urged the government and private sector to deepen the adoption of technology and digital tools across the construction industry.

Speaking to journalists ahead of the Mega Project Nigeria Expo 2026, organised in partnership with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and the Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria (MBAN) in Lagos, Chime said embracing digital solutions such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), drones, and project management software is critical to accelerating the delivery of affordable and quality housing.

He noted that technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), drones and Property Technology (PropTech) platforms can reduce construction time by up to 30 per cent while significantly cutting material waste.

Chime urged the government and private developers to make digital tools mandatory in building permit processing to improve transparency, efficiency and timely project delivery, stressing that digitalisation is central to national planning and infrastructure development.

He explained that the Mega Project Nigeria Expo 2026, scheduled for August in Lagos and themed, “Building the Future: A Decade of Infrastructure, Innovation and National Development,” will commemorate ten years of connecting governments, investors, developers, contractors, engineers, manufacturers, consultants, financial institutions and technology providers to promote sustainable infrastructure and economic growth.

“Digital platforms have a way of curbing corruption by as much as 70 to 80 per cent if properly applied. While some aspects of land allocation have been digitalised, a large portion is still handled manually.

The government controls the construction industry, and over 60 per cent of activities in the sector are government-driven. It should therefore lead to the massive adoption of digital technologies,” Chime said.

According to him, the Mega Project Nigeria platform has attracted more than $25 billion in investments over the years, strengthened collaboration among industry stakeholders, promoted innovation and created business opportunities across Nigeria’s built environment.

He described the milestone as not only a celebration of the platform’s achievements but also a renewed commitment to supporting Nigeria’s infrastructure and housing agenda.

Chime said the 2026 edition will feature an international exhibition, high-level conferences, investment forums, business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings, product launches, networking sessions and strategic discussions on infrastructure financing, housing development, smart cities, sustainable construction and public-private partnerships.

He added that a major highlight of this year’s edition is the strengthened collaboration with REDAN and MBAN. “These partnerships underscore the expo’s commitment to supporting housing development, expanding access to mortgage finance, encouraging investment in the real estate sector and fostering stronger collaboration among developers, financial institutions and policymakers.

“We are also working closely with public institutions, professional bodies and private-sector stakeholders to ensure the event delivers meaningful outcomes that contribute to national development.

The expo will honour more than 100 individuals, professional associations, government institutions and private-sector organisations whose contributions have significantly advanced engineering, construction and infrastructure development over the past decade,” he said.

Chime disclosed that the organisers are targeting about $10 billion in investment commitments from this year’s edition, which he said would help bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure gap and attract additional international funding into the country.

He added that the event is expected to attract participants from about 20 countries and over 150 exhibitors, boosting the hospitality industry, encouraging international firms to establish operations in Nigeria and creating employment opportunities.