Federal Government to introduce climate-smart building code in Nigeria

Muttaqha Darma, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, announced this 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 revised code aims to reduce carbon emissions from Nigeria’s built environment and improve building safety, durability, and performance. This initiative is 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, including the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

The minister emphasized the importance of rethinking urban planning and building design due to Nigeria's rapid urbanization. Beyond the building code review, the ministry has secured approval for the National Urban Development Policy, initiated a National Policy on Rural Settlement Planning and Development, and is finalizing National Physical Planning Standards. The ministry is also implementing climate-responsive housing under the Renewed Hope Estates and Cities Initiative.

Darma called for accelerated nationwide adoption and enforcement of the revised National Building Code, expansion of green financing for affordable housing, encourageme