Examining the Effects of Building Material Cost for Sustainable Public Housing Development in Nigeria

The provision of affordable public housing in Nigeria has been increasingly challenged by the rising cost of building materials. This study examined the effects of building material costs on public housing development in key urban areas of Anambra State, including Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi. A descriptive survey design was employed, targeting construction professionals such as builders, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, and safety officers. A total of 272 respondents were selected from a population of 860 using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with responses measured on a five-point Likert scale and analysed using SPSS version 26 using descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, including a one-sample t-test. The findings revealed that the high cost of building materials significantly affected public housing delivery. Among the effects, the risk of project abandonment was the most critical (mean = 4.35), followed by fluctuations in construction costs (mean = 4.25) and reduced construction output (mean = 4.03). Other notable impacts included increased final project costs (mean = 4.13) and reduced quality of workmanship (mean = 3.83). The positive mean difference (0.79) indicated that respondents perceived the cost of building materials as a major constraint, rating its impact above the neutral level. The study concluded that escalating material costs substantially constrained project completion, affordability, quality, and innovation in public housing delivery. It recommends policy and institutional interventions to stabilise material costs, strengthen local production, and promote alternative building materials to improve housing accessibility. Addressing these cost challenges is critical to ensuring sustainable public housing development in Nigeria.