FG to Build Bamboo Houses for Low-Income Nigerians

The federal government says it will use bamboo plants to build affordable, durable, and smart houses for low- and middle-income earners across the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday, June 11.

She explained that bamboo, when combined with other effective technologies, can provide a reliable and scalable solution to Nigeria’s housing shortage—without causing harm to the environment.

She also noted that the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), an agency under the ministry, is taking steps to address the housing needs of Nigerians by using green building technologies, especially bamboo-based construction for smart housing.

Mrs. Esuabana, who was represented by the Director of Environmental Science Technology (EST), Mrs. Benadette Oguche, made these remarks during a One-Day Capacity Building Workshop on “The Relevance of Bamboo for Climate-Smart Housing Construction,” held in Abuja.

She stated that adopting bamboo as the main material for smart homes will not only protect the environment but also make housing more adaptable, affordable, and comfortable for Nigerians with low to average incomes.

The Permanent Secretary added that the insights from the workshop are expected to help tackle some of the key challenges ahead, such as high startup costs and irregular supply of raw bamboo materials.