The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has unveiled a set of locally-developed machines aimed at reducing housing construction costs and enhancing local innovation in Nigeria’s building sector.

The initiative, led by the Director and Head of Department of Federal Public Assets Maintenance, Ibechile Egwudale, was presented in Abuja with the Minister of Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa, and Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore, in attendance.

According to officials, the showcased innovations include a mix of manual and semi-automated machines designed to improve cost-efficiency while promoting the use of indigenous materials.

The equipment lineup features interlocking compressed earth block machines, pulverising and sifting machines, sandcrete mixers, mini-tractors, and compacting and hoisting devices.

Other machines demonstrated include food processing tools such as ogbono seed cutters, hammer mills, de-stoners, and mixers—underscoring the broader utility of local technology across sectors.

The Ministry says the project aligns with its broader objective of making housing more affordable while strengthening the domestic manufacturing ecosystem.

“This innovation supports the use of locally sourced materials, reducing dependence on expensive imported products and minimising construction costs, especially for affordable housing,” Egwudale stated.

He highlighted that the initiative is built around the use of Compressed Earth Block technology, offering a sustainable and affordable alternative to traditional building materials.

“Their application in the housing sector will promote sustainable construction practices and generate local employment, empower artisans, and accelerate project delivery timelines across rural and urban areas,” he remarked.

They commended the director’s innovation and initiative, describing it as a crucial move toward realising the Ministry’s objective of delivering affordable housing to Nigerians.

He encouraged Egwudale to deepen his research and explore opportunities for improvement. “Carry out further research and make comparisons to see areas of modification and improvement,” the Minister advised, adding that he should “come up with an extensive and comprehensive report on how to use brick construction for the Social Housing Programme.”

Belgore also lauded the director’s efforts and encouraged him to keep advancing innovative solutions. He further requested that the director submit the designs of the brick housing units to the Ministry for evaluation.