Lafarge Plans To Lift 76% Urban Dwellers Out Of Slums, Reshape Built Sector

Lafarge Africa Plc has launched the Concrete Ideas Policy Blueprint in shaping the built sector in Nigeria, and raising the number of urban dwellers currently living in the slums.

This is as it is stated that 24 per cent of Nigeria’s population dwelled in urban real estate.

This was stated at the media briefing of the sixth Lafarge Africa concrete idea blue print titled: ‘Eradicating Slums and Regenerating Cities’ held in Lagos.

The Blueprint is an analysis of insights and ideas discussed by stakeholders in the construction, infrastructure and housing industries during the first five editions of Concrete Ideas, Lafarge’s thought-leadership series.

Also, the Policy Blueprint was written by Nigerian economist and CEO of Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba. The concrete ideas leadership series was created by the leading building solutions company to serve as a veritable platform for deliberation on issues, policies, and developments shaping Nigeria’s construction, infrastructure, and housing sectors.

Teriba stated that the rural real estate is largely slum and it is in the urban centre that there is well laid down real estate with good amenities.

He explained that “even in the urban centre, the majority dwell in slums and only about 24 per cent of the Nigerian population live in ideal urban real estate.”

Speaking, country CEO, Lafarge Africa, Khaled El Dokani said: “we are taking a more direct approach to increasing investment in infrastructure and housing by working with the government, professional associations, public policy experts and the broader private sector to find enabling policy solutions.

“We are grateful to all the experts and industry leaders who have actively participated and led critical policy deliberations during the last five editions of Concrete Ideas. With their inputs, we have been able to create this succinct and coherent Policy Blueprint. I hope that governments at all levels and the industry find this very useful.”

Dokani added that, “in line with our purpose of building progress for people and the planet, we are putting sustainability at the forefront of housing and infrastructure development, because we want to make sure that all Nigerians have access to this important information that will shape, set standards and accelerate positive change toward sustainable construction practices in the country.”

He affirmed that the company will continue to raise the bar of professional excellence in the built environment and the construction industry, saying “not only are we casting a vision for promoting sustainable construction practices within the Nigerian built environment and the construction industry, but we are outlining the action steps to revitalize and grow the industry in an ethical, strategic, and future-focused way.

“By rolling up our sleeves and working together, we will continue to unlock new and innovative ways to generate best policy ideas and innovations that will foster the delivery of Nigeria’s ambitious infrastructure plans and the growth of the industry.”

The head of Corporate Communications, Lafarge Africa Plc, Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor said: “with each edition of concrete ideas, it is evident that conversation on critical and topical issues across the construction value chain require public-private partnerships and the voice and contributions of the people to solve them.”

The new policy blueprint arrives as the building solutions company’s Concrete Ideas Series enters its sixth edition. The event which is scheduled to take place in Lagos on June 19, 2023 will have two plenary sessions namely; the Business of Clean Energy: Opportunities for Industries and SMEs and Promoting Circular Economy through Sustainable Waste Management Practice.