Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President, DMG Events, The Exhibition Organiser
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s construction industry have stressed the need for a review of government policies to bridge the nation’s housing deficit and strengthen the $108 billion sector.
The stakeholders made the appeal at the opening of the three-day Big 5 Construction Nigeria Exhibition organised by DMG Events in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Patrick Ogunleye, an Architect from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the private sector and government to provide affordable housing and sustainable solutions.
Speaking on the importance of healthy living spaces, Ogunleye urged Nigerians to embrace climate-friendly buildings, noting that well-designed structures promote good mental health.
“According to the National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS), people spend 86.9% of their time indoors. We must use environmentally friendly materials and passive design techniques as more people move to cities.
“Solutions should address urban density, including multi-storey buildings,” he said.
The stakeholders in the industry identified major challenges facing the sector, such as over-reliance on imports, unstable power supply, multiple taxation, weak vocational training, and low demand for local products.
A Technical Adviser, Emeka Azuh, emphasized the impact of skills shortages, complex supply chains, and economic volatility on construction projects.
“Our challenges are numerous, ranging from high fuel dependency for equipment, logistics bottlenecks, and fluctuating exchange rates to reduced demand for local materials,” he noted.
The exhibition’s organizer, Vice President of DMG Events, Ms Josine Heijmans, highlighted that the event provides networking opportunities, showcases innovations, and supports Nigeria’s Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan.
Josine Heijmans said; “Big 5 Talks returns in 2025 with over 26 CPD-certified sessions to support professional growth.
“This exhibition aligns with Nigeria’s infrastructure growth and economic diversification drive.”
Over 161 exhibitors such as DALAL steel industry, mechanical and electrical, NAFFCO, MANISH LALWANI Sales, ABUMET, C. WOERMANN (Nigeria Limited) among others from 20 countries
including China, Italy, Ghana, Dubai, and Nigeria, are showcasing climate-friendly building materials and technologies at the exhibition, which runs until Thursday.
Exhibitors also urged government to harmonize taxes and introduce incentives to encourage investments and create jobs for Nigerian youth.
The three days construction exhibition which will end on September 25, brought together over 10, 000 attendees from 21 countries and 161 exhibitors and private sector players and stakeholders showcasing climate friendly building materials.
