Experts seek standards in building materials

With the phenomenal rise in population, experts have implored the Federal Government to regulate local building materials to ensure standard construction in the country.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Convvy Estates Nigeria Limited, Mr. Samuel Oni – led the charge at the unveiling of the firm’s new ambassadors, Farida Mirzebalaeya and Mr. Adekunle Ademeso, in Lagos.

He urged the government to invest in the local building materials that will help to produce affordable housing. According to him, a lot of materials like steel and others are still imported.

Oni said: “When you talk about lumber, and woods, you will be surprised that properly finished woods are imported into the country. Government should put a stop to it and assist the local industries. Doing that would lower the cost of materials, and buildings and make housing more affordable.”

Speaking on how Nigeria can bridge the gap in housing, he said: “In some cities in Ontario, Canada, you won’t see buildings like bungalows or fully detached buildings because high-rise development is built to accommodate more families as lesser spaces are used for more units and not compromising the standard.”

Oni further explained that the firm is focusing on mass housing, which tends to eradicate the effect of inflation, maximising cost and ensuring efficiency in housing development for Nigerians.

“We have identified the need to develop for the middle-class segment of the market and focus on property development that is not necessarily luxurious. We are not developing bungalows, but maximising the use of space by developing apartments, duplexes and terraces. Our estates are managed by us.”

“We have implemented certain strategies that make homes more affordable through instalment plans, which are more convenient for would-be homeowners, starting from N200, 000 monthly and spread over a certain period in Alagbado/Ipaja projects. We plan to expand to Abuja and Ogun State.”

Mirzebalaeya advised developers to allow space between buildings for safety in case of emergencies. “There should space more than 10-metres space in-between buildings,” she said.