Source: Afropolitan Journals

Date Published: 9/11/25

Link: Strategic Framework for the Integration of Compressed Adobe Bricks (CABs) into Sustainable Urban Housing Design and Construction Practices in Lagos State, Nigeria

This academic study explores the potential of Compressed Adobe Bricks (CABs) as a pathway to more affordable and sustainable housing in Lagos, Nigeria. CABs are locally sourced, cost-efficient, and thermally superior to conventional sandcrete blocks, with testing showing 60% lower carbon emissions and much lower thermal conductivity. Despite these advantages, adoption remains very limited: while 70% of surveyed professionals are aware of CABs, only 11% have used them. Key barriers include the absence of regulatory standards, client resistance rooted in perception of low quality, and a shortage of skilled labor. The authors propose a strategic framework to integrate CABs into mainstream practice: incorporate CABs into building codes, launch government-backed demonstration housing projects, and scale workforce training. If implemented, CAB adoption could simultaneously reduce construction costs, lower environmental impacts, and improve access to affordable housing in one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities.