By Rasheeda Hamidu
The Federal Government says it will introduce climate-smart construction standards into Nigeria’s revised National Building Code to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and strengthen resilience to climate-related disasters.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, disclosed this on Thursday at the National Kick-off Workshop for the Development of the National Decarbonization and Resilience Roadmap for Nigeria’s Buildings and Construction Sector in Abuja.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Urban and Regional Development, Mrs Margaret Adejobi, Darma said the revised code would incorporate sustainable building materials, disaster-risk reduction measures and resilient design principles.
He said, “Once adopted and effectively enforced, it will significantly reduce emissions from the built environment while improving the safety, durability, and performance of buildings nationwide.”
According to the minister, the building code review forms part of broader reforms to align Nigeria’s housing and construction sector with the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
Darma noted that Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation requires deliberate action to ensure that housing and urban development systems contribute to both climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
He added that the ministry is also implementing climate-responsive housing under the Renewed Hope Estates and Cities Initiative, which promotes energy-efficient housing and resilient infrastructure.
Tpl. Grace Bitrus, Chairman of the National Multistakeholder Working Group for Decarbonized and Resilient Buildings, described the roadmap as a transformative initiative for reshaping Nigeria’s buildings and construction sector in response to climate change.
NatureNews notes that buildings account for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, making climate-smart building standards and energy-efficient construction essential for achieving low-carbon and climate-resilient cities.
The minister urged government agencies, professional bodies, development partners, the private sector and civil society organisations to support the implementation of the roadmap to accelerate sustainable development across Nigeria.
