Addressing the housing shortage gap in Nigeria: an exploration of the dry construction method

Abstract

Due to Nigeria's housing shortage, which has been increasing since the late 20th century and currently stands at 20 million units with a loss rate of 780,000 units annually, Nigeria's construction industry has been under pressure to adopt a modern, timely, and premium construction strategy. This research aims to assess how the dry construction method affects mass housing delivery in developing countries, focusing on Nigeria.

This study employed a qualitative research approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with sixteen experts and specialists in dry construction and housing who work for various organisations in Nigeria.

The study concluded that, although dry construction is infrequently used in developing countries, it offers significant potential for emerging economies and mortgage companies to ensure prompt housing delivery. By reducing building time and improving housing accessibility, dry construction can address the current challenges of delivering affordable housing in Nigeria. To successfully implement the dry construction method in closing the housing deficit in Nigeria, the research also noted that the government must change its priority beyond direct house development towards creating a conducive framework for the industry.

This study presents key stakeholders in the housing sector with the information they need to adopt and implement the dry construction method to close the housing gap, especially in Nigeria, which has received less attention.