Stakeholders in Nigeria’s construction industry have highlighted a critical challenge hindering growth: the slow adoption of modern technologies among professionals. Alarmingly, about 75% of industry experts are reportedly lagging in implementing essential technological advancements.
During the recent 4th edition of the Big 5 Construct Nigeria, hosted by DMG in Lagos, Enianu Eniafe, a project manager at ENCON Sharon Engineering Services, called for urgent action to bridge the existing knowledge gap.
“In terms of technology adoption, we are 75% behind the scale, indicating that Nigeria is significantly lagging in utilizing recent innovations. Building Information Modeling (BIM), which has been available since 2014, remains largely unused in Nigeria,” he explained.
Eniafe underscored the negative impact of this delay, noting that it has resulted in construction clashes, increased rework, and heightened costs. “By effectively harnessing our human and technological resources, we could achieve a significantly faster growth rate compared to other countries,” he emphasized.
Adding to this perspective, Toye Eniola, Executive Secretary of the Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria, pointed out that while technology is transforming construction sectors elsewhere, Nigeria continues to rely on outdated manual methods. He attributed this stagnation to pervasive corruption within the government, which he believes obstructs the sector’s technological evolution.
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Dr. Oluremi Olukoya, Group Chief Executive Officer of Pecksgrey Group, stressed the need for construction firms to fully embrace technology. “Businesses must leverage technology by engaging consultants who can guide them in integrating these innovations into their operations,” he asserted.
Olukoya highlighted that not only should companies adopt new technologies, but they should also bring in experts to facilitate their implementation.
Ben Greenish, Executive Vice President of DMG Events, pointed to the substantial growth potential within the construction industry, fueled by Nigeria’s population, which is projected to double in the next 50 years.
“With 80% of Africa’s population expected to live in cities by 2080, the opportunities in Nigeria’s construction market are enormous,” he noted. Greenish emphasized the sector’s vital role in job creation, education, and overall economic growth for the nation’s youthful population, which exceeds 200 million.
Mehtap Gürsoy, Portfolio Director at DMG, remarked that this year’s event attracted 150 exhibitors from 20 different countries, underscoring the dynamic growth of Nigeria’s construction industry, valued at $128 billion with an annual growth rate of 2.4%. “This event is crucial in providing a platform for international companies to establish business collaborations in Nigeria,” she concluded.
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