High cost of cement and other building materials: The way out

High cost of cement and other building materials: The way out

Gbolahan ALAO

Before cement became known to Nigeria and African continent, by extension, construction of houses and other outlets were beautifully, strongly and technically done with the use of clay. As a matter of fact, over 80% of those houses built in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s are still there, even though those in the 50s, 60s & 70s which may be presently in dilapidated state (simply owing to lack of maintenance) are still being occupied by the people while a greater percentage of those built in the 80s still maintains a good strength and look. In many of Nigerian villages till date, clay/mud is still being used as the major raw material for the house construction while the plastering is done, using cement.

With the skyrocketing price level of building materials in Nigeria, especially cement and iron rods, I want to advise both our local and professional civil/building engineers to do a thorough research on the available clay types in our areas and come up with how best these clay types could be used to make strong, neat, cost efficient and beautiful bricks with high level of modernity and adequate innovation for building constructions across Nigeria, now that Dangote and others have monopolized the industry making life unbearable for the common man.

If this is achieved in the industry, people will no longer struggle to get house(s) built for years but importantly, it will make work available for our artisans like; building engineers, carpenters, surveyors, architects, welders etc etc. Some other benefits that could be found here include; massive job creation and lasting and durable structures. Also, it has been established that it remains impenetrable by the bullets from both local and sophisticated guns. In other words, unlike structures made of cement blocks, bullet can’t penetrate any structure built with clay bricks.

Our Civil/Building Engineering Departments in our Universities and Polytechnics should research on its feasibility and bring modernity into it so that Dangote and his co-travelllers could be put to perpetual shame. Enough of suffering in this highly important and indispensable sector of our economy!