Assessment of Local Building Materials Used in Low-Cost Housing Construction in Kano State

The rising cost of conventional building materials has heightened interest in locally sourced alternatives for affordable housing delivery in North West Nigeria. This study assessed the types, quality, and utilisation patterns of local building materials used in low-cost housing construction in Kano State. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 180 building artisans, contractors, and homeowners across Kano Municipal, Fagge, and Nassarawa Local Government Areas through structured questionnaires and site observations. Materials assessed included sun-dried mud bricks, stabilised earth blocks, laterite, timber, and bamboo. Laboratory tests were conducted on sampled materials for compressive strength, water absorption, and durability. Results showed that stabilised earth blocks were the most widely used local material, comprising 54% of wall construction in surveyed structures. Compressive strength of sampled earth blocks ranged from 1.8 to 3.4 N/mm2, marginally below the Nigerian Building Code minimum of 3.5 N/mm2 for load-bearing walls. Mud bricks showed the poorest durability under simulated rainfall exposure. Cost analysis confirmed that locally sourced materials reduced wall construction cost by an average of 38% compared to conventional sandcrete blocks. The study concludes that local materials are widely adopted in Kano State but require quality improvement through standardisation and proper stabilisation techniques. Recommendations include training programmes for artisans and enforcement of local material quality standards by Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority.

Keywords: local building materials, low-cost housing, stabilised earth blocks, Kano State, building standards