Federal Govt Plans Building Materials Manufacturing Hub

The federal government is intensifying efforts to deepen industrial capacity through the establishment of local building materials manufacturing hubs.

The permanent secretary at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this at the ongoing 14th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Belgore said this was aimed at reducing construction costs, shortening delivery timelines, and creating employment opportunities.

He said that effective land management, urban renewal, promotion of local building materials, and public private partnerships have proven to be critical catalysts for sustainable housing delivery.

“Land, which remains the principal resource in the sector, only becomes a true asset when it is properly titled, registered, digitised, and verifiable.

“Secure land documentation enhances access to finance, stimulates investment, and unlocks wealth creation.

“Urban renewal, through the regeneration and modernisation of ageing urban centres, improves livability, optimises land use, and promotes sustainable human settlements.

“In addition, the growing demands on public resources have made Public–Private Partnerships indispensable in complementing government efforts to scale up housing and infrastructure delivery,” he said.

Belgore added that the importance of housing cannot be overemphasised, but housing as a vital sector of the economy, transcends the provision of shelter.

”It encompasses access to safe, secure, habitable, and affordable homes, and remains a critical driver of a productive and stable society.

”Sound physical planning, efficient land allocation and utilisation, and effective policy formulation and implementation are therefore fundamental to sustainable housing development.

”The real estate and construction sectors contribute significantly to economic growth through employment generation, investment mobilisation, savings, and improved labour productivity.

”Moreover, the availability of decent housing directly influences public health, social well-being, and environmental sustainability,” he said.

Earlier, the Kwara State  commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr Segun Ogunshola, had said that the challenges affecting housing provision persists, but the state government is implementing measures to address land and housing shortages.

He said the 20,000-unit Kwara Smart City project was already laying the foundation for a next-generation mega city, adding that the project’s master plan has been reviewed to improve livability.