The Federal Government has said the ongoing review of the National Building Code will introduce climate-smart construction standards, energy efficiency requirements and disaster-risk reduction measures.
The measures, it said was aimed at making buildings across the country safer, more resilient and environmentally sustainable.
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.
The minister, represented by the Director of Urban and Regional Development in the ministry, Mrs. Margaret Adejobi, said the revised building code would play a key role in reducing carbon emissions from Nigeria’s built environment.
He said, “Equally important is the ongoing review of the National Building Code.
“The revised Code will integrate climate-smart construction standards, energy efficiency requirements, sustainable building materials, disaster-risk reduction measures, and resilient design principles.
“Once adopted and effectively enforced, it will significantly reduce emissions from the built environment while improving the safety, durability, and performance of buildings nationwide.”
The minister said the review formed part of broader reforms by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to align Nigeria’s housing and construction sector with global climate commitments and sustainable urban development goals.
According to him, the federal government remains committed to fulfilling Nigeria’s obligations under the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
“The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is playing its part by driving policies and programmes that promote sustainable urbanization, resilient infrastructure, climate-responsive housing, and low-carbon development pathways,” he said.
Darma noted that Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation made it imperative to rethink how cities and buildings are planned, designed and managed.
“The transition of Nigeria’s built environment therefore requires deliberate actions to ensure that our housing and urban development systems contribute positively to climate mitigation and adaptation efforts,” he said.
He disclosed that beyond the building code review, the ministry had secured Federal Executive Council approval for the reviewed National Urban Development Policy, initiated a National Policy on Rural Settlement Planning and Development, and was finalising National Physical Planning Standards to promote sustainable land use and resilient cities.
The minister also said the ministry was implementing climate-responsive housing under the Renewed Hope Estates and Cities Initiative.
“Under this initiative, we are promoting climate-responsive housing designs that reduce energy consumption, improve thermal comfort, and minimize environmental impacts,” he said.
He added that resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather events was also being incorporated into new housing developments.
The minister called for accelerated nationwide adoption and enforcement of the revised National Building Code.
Among the priorities outlined for stakeholders, he listed the need to accelerate nationwide adoption and effective enforcement of the reviewed National Building Code, expand green financing for affordable housing, encourage local production of climate-resilient building materials and establish a National Urban Observatory to support evidence-based planning.
“The future of Nigeria’s cities and settlements will be determined by the choices we make today. Decarbonization and resilience are no longer optional aspirations; they are development imperatives,” he said.
He urged government agencies, private sector operators, development partners, professional bodies and civil society organisations to support the development and implementation of the National Decarbonisation and Resilience Roadmap.