FG, AIHS Push For Local Building Materials, Affordable Housing

In a renewed effort to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit, the federal government and organisers of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) have unveiled plans to promote local building materials and make affordable housing a reality for millions of Nigerians.

This was disclosed ahead of the 19th edition of the AIHS, scheduled to hold from July 27 to August 1, 2025,  in Abuja. Themed “Reimagining Housing Through Innovation, Collaboration, and Policy,” this year’s event aims to galvanise stakeholders around critical reforms in land administration, local content, and housing finance.

Speaking on the upcoming event, Coordinator of AIHS and founder of Housing TV Africa, Festus Adebayo, said the collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development marks a significant turning point for the sector.

“The elevation of housing to a standalone ministry has created a new opportunity for strategic engagement. Together with the minister, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, who will serve as chief host of the event, said, we are working to deepen access to land, promote local production of building materials, and push practical solutions for affordable housing,” Adebayo said.

He added that over 21 countries, more than 400 exhibitors, and thousands of stakeholders will attend the 2025 edition, including developers, policy makers, financial institutions, and international investors.

A major highlight of this year’s show will be focused sessions on how Nigeria can reduce its reliance on imported construction materials by incentivising local manufacturing. With rising costs and foreign exchange challenges, experts say boosting local production is the most sustainable path to achieving low-cost housing at scale.

“The cost of cement, tiles, doors, and other critical inputs is a major barrier to affordable housing. We want to shift the conversation toward using locally available alternatives and creating jobs in the process,” Adebayo noted.

The AIHS 2025 will also serve as a platform to address long-standing land access issues, with policy dialogues expected between state governors, commissioners for housing, and planning officials. Organisers say resolving land titling bottlenecks is essential to unlocking large-scale housing development.

Other key segments of the event include dedicated forums on mortgage accessibility, green financing, youth and PropTech, and a special session for Under-40 CEOs in real estate. A Women in Housing and Construction Forum will also feature, reflecting the growing role of female professionals in the sector.

Corporate supporters include Dangote Cement, Lafarge, Brains & Hammers, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Family Homes Funds, IFC World Bank, Urban Shelter, and CDK Integrated Industries, among others. Delegations from Dubai, China, the UK, and Italy are also expected.

Professional and institutional partners backing the show include the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), and the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP).

With the AIHS gaining increasing relevance across Africa, organisers say the 2025 edition will not only spotlight innovation but also push for implementation of tangible policy reforms to deliver real impact on the ground.