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ABSTRACT
This paper examines indigenous building materials in Nigeria, taken Oyo State, Southwest, Nigeria as a case study. However, challenges or problems associated with the utilization of the materials were highlighted, and respondents identified prospects and solutions to the problems based on the level of importance. Eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to the respondents, seventy-five (75) were returned. The respondents considered for the study are construction-related professionals, building owners/developers, masons and others. Purposive and random sampling techniques were adopted for the study. Thus, data collected were analyzed using percentage, and relative importance index (RII) methods and the values obtained were also ranked accordingly. According to respondents, some of the major challenges facing the use and acceptance of indigenous building materials are low production capacity, low demand for the materials by the prospective clients, and lack of cost comparison between the materials and the conventional types. These variables were ranked 1st (0.931), 2nd (0.925) and 3rd (0.893), respectively. Moreover, an increase in research on the properties of the materials and an increase in the use of the materials by professionals in building construction industries were both ranked first (0.907). Enforcement of construction of mega housing units with the materials and promulgate national housing policy to promote production and utilization were also ranked third (0.856) and fourth (0.840). Hence, it can be concluded that establishment of standard requirements the materials must be met before recommended for use, provision of appropriate technology for the production of the materials and improvement on the production method in both processes and finishes were considered the most preferred solutions to the utilization of indigenous building materials in Nigeria. Full Text
