By Peter Omopo
Estate surveyors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Ondo State chapter, have called on governments at all levels to address the high cost of building materials, which they say is driving up house rents across the country.
The Chairman of the Ondo State branch of the institution, Dr Akintomide Akinlabi, made the appeal on Monday while speaking with journalists in Akure ahead of the association’s annual NIESV Week.
Akinlabi attributed the recent surge in rental prices to the rising cost of constructing houses, noting that the housing crisis is closely tied to the economics of construction. According to him, increases in the cost of building inputs inevitably translate into higher rents and unaffordable housing.
He urged the government to promote the local production of building materials as a strategic solution to Nigeria’s growing housing challenges. He argued that overdependence on imported or expensive conventional materials has placed significant pressure on developers and prospective homeowners, many of whom are already burdened by high interest rates and limited access to affordable credit.
The NIESV chairman advocated greater use of locally sourced materials, citing traditional building methods such as mud blocks and stone foundations, which he said have proven durable and offer better insulation. He added that government patronage of locally made materials would boost public confidence and encourage wider adoption.
Akinlabi also called for housing to be treated as a social service to enhance affordability, urging governments to invest more in residential estates to increase housing supply. He maintained that a higher housing stock would help moderate rental prices through market forces.
On the forthcoming NIESV Week, he said the 2026 edition would focus on professionalism, youth engagement, gender inclusion and physical wellness. Planned activities include a novelty football match, a quiz competition for tertiary institutions, the NIESV Women and Young Surveyors’ Forum, a dinner and the association’s Annual General Meeting.
