$54bn Construction Market: Experts Urge Focus On Quality, Lifecycle Value Of Materials

Experts in construction, manufacturing, environmental sustainability and interior design have urged developers, architects and contractors to prioritise the quality, safety, durability and lifecycle value of building materials rather than choosing products primarily based on their initial cost or appearance.

They warned that cheaper materials could ultimately prove more expensive where they require frequent repairs, replacement and maintenance, particularly under Nigeria’s harsh weather conditions.

The experts spoke on the sidelines of Big 5 Construct Nigeria in Lagos, against the backdrop of continued expansion in the country’s construction market, which generated an estimated $54 billion in construction output in 2025 and is projected to grow by about 3.1 per cent in 2026, according to market research data cited by ResearchAndMarkets.

Technical manager, CAP PLC, Gabriel Ghomren, said material selection should be based on total lifecycle value rather than the initial purchase price. He said developers and project teams needed to consider factors including durability, colour retention, adhesion, resistance to weathering and abrasion, maintenance requirements, product composition, and potential health and environmental impacts.

According to him, a product that appears cheaper at the point of purchase could become more expensive over the life of a building if it requires frequent repainting, repairs or replacement.

“A durable finish that requires fewer repainting cycles can also reduce the consumption of raw materials, energy, packaging and labour over the life of a building,” Ghomren said.

He also cautioned against treating sustainability as merely an issue of appearance or relying on “green” claims without examining the composition, safety and performance of building products.

Ghomren called on manufacturers to invest in safer raw materials, undertake consistent quality testing and provide transparent information on product composition and performance.

He also urged architects and consultants to specify materials that meet appropriate safety and performance requirements.

Of particular concern, he said, was the presence of lead in paints, noting that lead is toxic and can pose serious health risks, particularly to children.

Executive director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), Dr Leslie Adogame, represented by Victor Fabunmi, also stressed that the long-term performance and safety of buildings were closely linked to the composition of the materials used.

Adogame said lead in paint was particularly concerning because its presence could not be determined simply by looking at a product’s colour or appearance.

He said Nigeria’s mandatory limit for lead in paint provided an important benchmark for manufacturers, specifiers and consumers, but called for stronger monitoring, enforcement, independent testing and greater transparency.

He urged the construction industry to move away from material-purchasing decisions driven largely by price and aesthetics.

“Ultimately, material choices should give equal consideration to safety, material composition, durability, environmental impact and long-term value,” he said.

From the interior design perspective, managing partner, James Cubitt Interiors, Jacqueline Aki, said the selection of paints and finishes should be determined by the conditions in which they would be used and not aesthetics alone.

She said project teams should consider surface preparation, adhesion, resistance to heat, humidity, ultraviolet exposure, abrasion and frequent cleaning, as well as maintenance requirements and expected service life.

Aki also urged developers, designers and contractors to examine product formulation, hazardous substances, emissions, environmental impact, packaging and waste implications.

She said evidence of quality testing and compliance with relevant standards should also form part of procurement decisions.

According to her, a finish delivers long-term value when it maintains its appearance and performance while requiring fewer repairs and repainting cycles.

“Material selection should be based on lifecycle value rather than the lowest initial price,” she said.

The experts’ concerns come amid rising construction costs, which have increased pressure on developers and consumers and could encourage the substitution of specified materials with cheaper alternatives.

They therefore called for greater involvement of qualified architects, designers, consultants and contractors in material selection to ensure that cost savings do not compromise essential safety and performance requirements.

The experts also advocated stronger local manufacturing capacity, saying that increased domestic production could reduce the sector’s exposure to foreign-exchange volatility, import costs and supply-chain disruptions.

They, however, stressed that expanding local production must be matched by effective standards, certification, testing and quality-control mechanisms to prevent substandard products from entering the market.

Beyond reducing costs, they said stronger domestic manufacturing could improve supply-chain resilience and encourage the development of building products better suited to Nigeria’s environmental and construction conditions.

The experts further called for closer collaboration among manufacturers, regulators, professional bodies, developers and consumers to establish clearer benchmarks for product quality, safety and performance.

With Nigeria’s construction pipeline expanding, they said the industry needed to assess building performance beyond completion, with material choices recognised as critical determinants of a structure’s durability, maintenance costs, safety and long-term value.

They maintained that a lifecycle approach to material selection would help the industry deliver buildings that are not only affordable to construct, but also safer, more durable, easier to maintain and more environmentally responsible.