The Federal Government has unveiled a set of locally developed construction machines designed to reduce building costs and accelerate affordable housing delivery across Nigeria.
The innovation, presented by Arc. Ibechile Christopher Egwudale, Director and Head of the Department of Federal Public Assets Maintenance, was showcased before the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja.
The machines—ranging from interlocking Compressed Earth Block (CEB) moulders, pulverising and sifting equipment, to sandcrete mixers and agro-processing tools—are aimed at promoting sustainable, low-cost housing using locally sourced materials.
"These machines are not only cost-effective but also empower local artisans, create jobs, and support eco-friendly building practices," Egwudale said. "With CEB technology, we can deliver quality homes faster and cheaper, without relying on expensive imported equipment."
Visibly impressed, Minister Dangiwa commended Egwudale's ingenuity and urged him to continue refining the technology. He also directed the submission of a comprehensive report on how the equipment could be integrated into the federal government's Social Housing Programme.
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"Innovations like these are critical to our mission of making homeownership accessible for all Nigerians," Dangiwa said. "This aligns with our broader goal of reducing dependency on imported materials while ensuring quality and sustainability."
Also speaking, the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, described the development as a bold step toward self-reliance in Nigeria's housing sector. He encouraged Egwudale to present prototype housing units constructed with the new equipment for official assessment.
"These efforts are timely, especially as rising material costs continue to threaten access to affordable housing for low- and middle-income Nigerians," Belgore added.
The presentation comes at a crucial time as the ministry intensifies its drive to deliver affordable, sustainable housing under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The machines are expected to play a key role in reducing construction timelines and costs while creating opportunities across the local value chain.
