Recourse to earth for low-cost housing in Nigeria

The provision of low-cost houses for the poor in Nigeria is the focus of this paper. Quality housing enhances the health and welfare of man and contributes immensely to his productivity, thus underscoring its importance as a fundamental need. The provision of low-cost houses is hinged to the availability of durable and affordable building materials. This paper advocates the use of building earth in view of its relatively lower-cost than that of conventional modern materials and its abundance in the country. Furthermore, the material has thermal properties which make it ideal for construction in the tropics.