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Affordable Homeownership
SNEAK PEEK
A return to making sustainable and safe homes completely built with wood. This stands against existing misconceptions against wooden construction; especially since we're not proposing partial application, we want to build a home using wood in its entirety, that is completely…100%.
However, there are a few reasons why this looks like a futuristic viable and marketable plan as Nigerians currently don't want wooden homes. Let's look into the…
Nigeria, blessed with a wealth of natural resources and expansive forests, is home to a variety of ecosystems ranging from lush rainforests in the south to sprawling savannahs in the north. Despite this natural abundance and the accessibility of timber, wood remains a surprisingly underutilized material in the Nigerian construction industry.
The reasons behind this paradox are complex and deeply rooted in cultural, environmental, economic, and regulatory challenges. Understanding why wood has not gained widespread acceptance as a primary building material can shed light on the limitations faced by the construction sector and help explore solutions that could revolutionize affordable homeownership.
Here, let's dive into the key reasons behind this hesitancy and propose pathways to change the narrative.
Our culture plays an important factor in the primary reasons wood is not widely used in construction. Traditionally, many Nigerian communities favoured mud and thatch for housing, particularly in rural areas. This was for obvious reasons:
Wood was typically reserved for the rich and “elite" of the society who had been exposed to western education and who could afford the extra costs for processing and treatment.
Unfortunately, as we became more ‘educated’ and our cities developed with our populations urbanised, these preferences have morphed into a widespread misconception about wood and even these culturally used-to-be preferred materials.
Concrete and block construction have become synonymous with modernity, status, and permanence and are now widely preferred for more “durability and security”. This is not only because they offer greater resistance to fires, termites, and weather-related deterioration compared to wood. But because we have entirely neglected our own ways and means to adopt foreign practices, cultures and practices that are “modern and trendy”.
Interestingly, the idea of a wooden house, which used to be the status of wealth, in present-day Nigeria, now carries associations of impermanence or lower economic status, which has affected its adoption in urban cities and towns.
Nigeria’s climate, which ranges from humid tropical rainforests to arid savannahs, poses significant environmental challenges to the widespread use of wood in construction. In the humid southern regions, wood is susceptible to rot, termite infestation, and mold due to high moisture levels.
This makes it less appealing as a long-term building material…it makes sense that homeowners would not want to take on the ‘wahala’ of dealing with these issues when they could use steel or other composite materials that demand lower maintenance and higher ‘rest of mind’.
Termites, in particular, are a pervasive problem in many parts of Nigeria, and untreated or poorly treated wood can quickly fall victim to these pests. In northern regions, where the climate is drier, wood could theoretically perform better, but the preference for concrete and bricks remains strong.
Unfortunately, without widespread knowledge of modern wood treatments that have enhanced wood’s durability and capabilities, many home seekers and builders will remain hesitant to use wood as a primary building material.
Wood is highly flammable, which raises concerns about fire hazards, especially in densely populated urban areas. The risk of fire is a major deterrent to using wood in residential and commercial construction.
Concrete and steel, in contrast, offer higher resistance to fire, making them more appealing choices for builders looking for long-lasting, safer structures.
In many parts of the world, advanced fire-resistant treatments and building codes help mitigate the risk of fire in wooden structures. However, in Nigeria, the adoption of these technologies is not yet widespread, further limiting the use of wood as a building material.
Although Nigeria has vast timber resources, a large fraction of the wood available for construction is exported rather than processed for local use. This is partly due to the lack of a robust domestic wood processing industry. Most of the timber harvested in Nigeria is exported as raw material to international markets, where it is processed into higher-value products…which are then re-imported into the country at fresh costs.
Apart from this, the absence of sufficient sawmills, wood treatment facilities, and modern timber manufacturing plants has created a supply gap for locally processed, high-quality construction wood.
Moreover, due to the export-and-reimport dynamic mentioned above, the cost of processed timber is relatively high compared to other materials like concrete blocks, which are widely locally produced and readily available.
This economic imbalance means that, for many home seekers, developers, builders and sponsors, using concrete or steel is more cost-effective in the short term, even though wood could offer long-term savings if properly managed.
Another contributing factor is the shortage of skilled labour trained in modern wood construction techniques. Most Nigerian builders are more familiar with masonry and concrete work, and there is a general lack of expertise in timber construction. Remember we addressed this earlier?
In regions where wood is more commonly used, like Europe or North America, builders are trained to work with wood and understand the complexities of building durable, safe structures.
In contrast, Nigeria lacks proper educational programs and vocational training that covers modern wood construction, resulting in reduced willingness from contractors and developers to explore timber as a primary material.
The lack of awareness around new technologies - like laminated timber or engineered wood products that are fire-resistant and highly durable, limits the potential for wood to become more widely accepted.
While Nigeria is rich in forest resources, it is also grappling with significant deforestation. Unsustainable logging practices, coupled with agricultural expansion and urbanization, have led to the depletion of these forests.
Interestingly, we've created a paradox:
Despite the abundance of timber, concerns about environmental sustainability and the loss of forest cover make it difficult to promote wood as a building material. Moreover, there is growing awareness of the need to protect Nigeria’s natural ecosystems and preserve biodiversity.
Advocating for increased application of wood in construction may seem counterproductive in light of these environmental concerns, especially without proper reforestation programs in place.
Government policies in the form of building regulations in Nigeria do not currently favour the use of wood as a primary material in construction. Most building codes and standards are designed around the use of concrete, steel, and masonry, which further entrenches these materials as the norm in the construction industry.
There’s also little in the way of incentives or subsidies for developers who want to use sustainable wood materials, unlike in countries where timber construction is actively promoted as an eco-friendly alternative.
For wood to gain traction in the Nigerian construction sector, there would need to be a concerted effort from both the government and the private sector to revise building codes, invest in timber processing infrastructure, and promote the environmental and economic benefits of using wood.
Given the challenges above, it is essential to explore easy-to-implement solutions that could pave the way for the use of wood as an effective building material in Nigeria. Here are 3 strategies that could help overcome these obstacles and promote wood as a viable, sustainable, and cost-effective option for home construction:
To combat the problem of deforestation and ensure a steady supply of construction-grade wood, Nigeria needs to establish and enforce policies that encourage sustainable forestry practices. This could involve:
These strategies would not only preserve the environment but also create a reliable source of timber for domestic construction, reducing dependency on imports.
To make timber a more attractive option for home construction, Nigeria needs a robust infrastructure for wood processing. With improved processing facilities, high-quality and treated wood can become more accessible and competitively priced, narrowing the gap between concrete and wood in construction.
This could be achieved through:
One of the major reasons for the underutilization of wood in construction is the lack of awareness about its benefits and potential. Education initiatives should aim to:
Educating the public and professionals on the advantages of modern timber construction would enhance trust and acceptance, gradually shifting the narrative from concrete dominance to a more balanced approach.
For wood to become a mainstream building material in Nigeria, it is essential to foster a shift in how it is perceived and used. This will require collaboration among stakeholders, from government bodies and private investors to builders and local communities, to address the challenges that have long limited its application. By implementing strategic policies, investing in infrastructure, and promoting awareness and training, wood could be positioned as a reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable option for home construction.
It is crucial to strike a balance between environmental stewardship and practical development. While promoting wood as a viable construction material may seem at odds with conservation efforts, integrating sustainable practices ensures that both objectives are met. Embracing a more diverse range of building materials, including wood, can help Nigeria make strides toward affordable homeownership while fostering innovation and sustainability in the construction industry.
Ultimately, unlocking the potential of timber involves creating an environment where the material is seen not just as a traditional or luxury option, but as a practical and forward-thinking choice that aligns with the country's housing and environmental goals.
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