Latest Price Of Building Materials In Nigeria 2023

Nigeria’s real estate industry is growing at a high speed and the same goes for the price of building materials in Nigeria in 2023.

Compared to a few years ago, the current price of building materials in Nigeria is not favourable to a large percentage of the masses.

This is because the country has faced many challenges such as the high cost of transportation, currency devaluation, inflation rate, the Covid-19 Pandemic etc. and this has triggered a sensation in the Nigerian building materials market.

There is also a shortage in the availability of raw materials meant for the production of man-made building materials mainly due to the disruption in the global supply chain.

So many individuals and investors find it increasingly difficult to buy building materials and they end up halting their building project because it has gone beyond their budget.

Whether you are an investor, an individual who wants to build a private home, or you are seeking to dabble in the retail or wholesale business of selling building materials then you are at the right place because this post will let you know the current price of building materials in Nigeria.

In this article, you will get a detailed understanding of the Nigerian materials building market, the current price of building materials in Nigeria, the factors influencing the price of building materials in Nigeria, and much more.

Some of the prices stated in the article may be slightly different from what is obtainable in the market depending on your location, the type of brand you prefer and the time of purchase.

After reading this post you will have gained a lot of understanding about the current price of building materials in Nigeria which will enable you to make informed decisions.

Trends In The Price Of Building Materials In Nigeria

The real estate industry is an important part of an economy, especially for a developing economy and for it to thrive in any country, it works hand in hand with the building materials market.

Because this market is vast and so complex, the prices increase on an almost weekly basis.

In early 2000, the price of building materials in Nigeria was relatively cheaper than now because many people were not aware of the real estate industry.

The boom of this industry in Nigeria began in 2007 when the Federal government approved the housing scheme which enabled public servants to take advantage of the loan facilities in mortgage banks to build their houses.

Between March 2020 and March 2021, the price of building materials in Nigeria such as cement, reinforcement rods, Plaster Of Paris(POP), doors, stone, etc. rose by over 60% according to The Pulse Newspaper.

Read Also: Top 20 Unique Things About Lagos Homes

However, despite the price, a handful of Nigerians were able to go ahead with their building projects.

The worst that happened was the pandemic in 2020 which triggered the current price of building materials we now have in the market and it came between January 2022 and May 2023.

The hike in price is over 70% compared to the previous year according to The Guardian Newspaper.

As a result of this, most prospective investors or homeowners had their hope dashed and the teeming population experienced a shortage of houses to accommodate them.

The fact remains, the price of building materials in Nigeria is not decreasing anytime soon due to several factors triggering it such as the constant increase in fuel prices, foreign exchange rate etc.

List Of Commonly Used Building Materials In Nigeria

To build a house from the foundation to the roof level and even the finishing, the list is inexhaustible. Still, the following materials are the most commonly used building materials in Nigeria.

1. Cement
2. Concrete Blocks And Bricks
3. Granite And Stones
4. Windows And Doors
5. Plumbing Fixtures And Equipment
6. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation And Air Conditioning) Materials
7. Electrical Materials
8. Roofing Materials
9. Framing Materials
10. Flooring Materials
11. Kitchen And Bathroom Fixtures
12. Foundation Materials
13. Paint And Finishes
14. Insulation Materials
15. Exterior Finishing Materials

Depending on the design and the needs of the house to be built, more building materials not included above may be required and may vary from location to location.

The Current Price Of Building Materials In Nigeria 2023

The price of building material in Nigeria which should be considered first is cement, followed by reinforcement rods, stone, roofing sheet, sand, fixtures and exterior finishes.

Cement

Cement is the most important building material and its in very high demand because it is used in making the main parts of the building such as the foundation, beams, lintels, slabs and columns.

It is a very fine powder produced from limestone and other chemicals at a very high temperature and it comes in a 50kg bag and has many brands.

Read Also: Cost of Roofing A 4-Bedroom Flat In Nigeria

Cement has different strengths or what can be called grades such as grade 32.5, grade 37.5 and grade 42.5.

When once the cement comes in contact with water, sand and granite, it forms what is called concrete.

Over a while, it will set and harden into a rock mass.

However in Nigeria, the most popular is Dangote cement and it cost the most. Cement prices fluctuate according to the season.

For instance, cement prices are usually lower in the rainy season compared to the dry season.

Depending on your preferred brand, each of them have their retail and wholesale prices. Below are some of the brands.

Cement Brand	Minimum Price	Maximum Price	Wholesale Price
Dangote	₦3,900	₦5,000	₦2,340,000 – ₦3,000,000
Elephant	₦3,800	₦4,500	₦2,280,000 – ₦2,700,000
Ibeto	₦3,700	₦4,500	₦2,220,000 – ₦2,700,000
Ashaka	₦3,600	₦4,500	₦2,160,000 – ₦2,700,000
Portland	₦3,700	₦4,500	₦2,220,000 – ₦2,700,000
BUA	₦3,600	₦4,500	₦2,160,000 – ₦2,700, 000
Lafarge	₦3,700	₦4,500	₦2,220,000 -₦ 2,700,000
Eagle	₦3,650	₦4,500	₦2,190,000 – ₦2,700,000
UNICEM	₦3,700	₦4,500	₦2,220,000 – ₦2,700,000
Cellular Concrete Cement	₦3,750	₦4,500	₦2,250,000 – ₦2,700,000
Sokoto	₦3,700	₦4,500	₦2,220,000 – ₦2,700,000

Blocks

Blocks which are known in technical words as Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) are always misinterpreted to also mean Bricks.

Although both are materials for constructing walls and foundations of buildings, they are different in price, shape and method of production.

Blocks are typically used in Nigeria and are made from a mixture of cement, sand and water which are then compressed into a 6-inch and 9-inch mould to form what can be seen below.

Read Also: Top 16 Penthouses In Nigeria & Their Locations

How durable blocks are partly depends on the grade of cement, type of sand and water used. The number of blocks produced from a bag of cement also contributes to its durability.

From a professional point of view, at least 35 to 40 blocks should be produced from a bag of cement.

Bricks are made from hardened clay in a kiln and it is often more durable and expensive than CMUs.

TYPE OF BLOCKS	MINIMUM PRICE	MAXIMUM PRICE
6-inch hand mould	₦270	₦350
6-Inch vibrated mould	₦270	₦300
6-inch stone dust	₦290	₦320
9-inch hand mould	₦320	₦370
9-inch vibrated mould	₦300	₦335
9-inch stone dust	₦330	₦350
Crystal glass block	₦1,500	₦2,000
White glass block	₦1,800	₦2,200
Parallel clear glass	₦1,400	₦1,700
Crystal green glass	₦1,700	₦2,300
Polystyrene foam block/sheet	₦2,000	₦2,500
Spanish block wall tile	₦7,500	₦8,500

Reinforcement Bars

Reinforcement bars are others known as steel rods by professionals but commonly referred to as “iron rods” by traders.

The price of this building material in Nigeria used to be cheap but recently its price has skyrocketed.

Just like cement, it is used to construct the foundation, beams, slabs, lintels and columns. Steel rods help the concrete to carry and transfer the loads in storey buildings.

Read Also: Top 20 Luxury Homes In Lagos

They come in different sizes known as diameter, mostly used in high-rise buildings and bungalows too but each diameter can be used for specific parts of the building.

It is available for both retail and wholesale but you have to know that there are both imported and local brands in the market.

The range of prices seen below depends on either if it is a local or imported steel rod.

REINFORCEMENT DIAMETER	NUMBER OF STEEL PER TON (PIECE)	MINIMUM PRICE	MAXIMUM PRICE	MINIMUM WHOLESALE PRICE	MAXIMUM WHOLESALE PRICE
6mm	376	₦1,100	₦1,300	₦413,000	₦488,800
8mm	210	₦2,100	₦2,900	₦441,000	₦609,000
10mm	134	₦3,800	₦4,500	₦509,200	₦603,000
12mm	93	₦4,800	₦5,500	₦446,400	₦511,500
16mm	52	₦8,200	₦9,000	₦426,400	₦468,000
20mm	34	₦13,500	₦15,000	₦459,000	₦510,000
25mm	21	₦19,000	₦21,500	₦399,000	₦451,500
30mm	15	₦28,000	₦31,000	₦420,000	₦465,000
A 4mm BRC mesh		₦14,000	₦18,000
20m of 3.5mm BRC mesh		₦15,500	₦18,500
25m of 4.0mm BRC mesh		₦25,000	₦27,000

Paint

Paint is a liquid used in beautifying or decorating the walls of both the interior and exterior of buildings.

it can be applied to surfaces for colouring, and protection from moisture purposes. it dries up after its application because it exists only in a thin-film form.

The hike in the price of building materials in Nigeria has affected the price of paint because it is one of the most sought-after materials.

You can say that after cement comes paint because most offices and building complexes constructed needs to be painted.

Paint comes in various forms such as emulsion, oil, matte, gloss etc. depending on what you as a buyer want.

TYPE	QUANTITY	COLOUR	FAIR QUALITY	HIGH QUALITY
Emulsion	4 Litres	White	₦1,250	₦2,100
	20 Litres	White	₦4,000	₦10,200
Emulsion	4 Litres	Deep	₦1,400	₦2.900
	20 Litres	Deep	₦4,200	₦13,850
Emulsion	4 Litres	Others	₦1,050	₦1,850
	20 Litres	Others	₦3,800	₦9,000
Texcote	4 Litres	White	₦ 1,700	₦3,000
	20 Litres	White	₦4,800	₦13,800
Texcote	4 Litres	Deep	₦1,850	₦2,900
	20 Litres	Deep	₦5,200	₦14,000
Texcote	4 Litres	Others	₦1,500	₦2,750
	20 Litres	Others	₦4,200	₦12,800
Gloss (Oil)	4 Litres	White (₦6,200)
Gloss (Oil)	4 Litres	Deep (₦5,300)
Gloss (Oil)	4 Litres	Other (₦5,000)

Stones

These are basic materials for building homes, offices complexes etc. Stones are present in various shapes, forms, and colours and are sold in tonnes or what is called “a trip”.

Their durability and fireproof nature make them a very important building material. Some of them are used in the decoration of the exterior parts of the building.

Stones have different diameters and are used for different purposes.

DIAMETER	MINIMUM PRICE	MAXIMUM PRICE
3/4 Inch	₦125,000	₦143,000
1/2 Inch	₦122,000	₦145,000
1/4 Inch	₦120,000	₦135,000
1 Inch	₦120,000	₦130,000
1 to 1/4 Inch	₦45,000	₦60,000
Granite Stone Dust	₦200,000	₦255,000
Gravel	₦150,000	₦180,000
Granite	₦200,000	₦270,000
Chippings	₦180,000	₦200,000

Wood (Timber)

The price of building materials in Nigeria has also affected timber or what is called wood.

Timber is the next most important building material after cement because it’s used for roofing the house.

It exists in different types such as softwood, hardwood, and plywood and in sizes.

Most of the hardwoods are used in producing wooden doors and other furniture.

This building material is gotten from countries like Cameroon etc. where there is an abundance of many species of wood.

The risk involved in sawing and transportation from outside Nigeria leads to an increase in the price of timber.

TYPE	SIZE(INCH)	MINIMUM PRICE	MAXIMUM PRICE
Afara	1/4	₦2,000	₦2,400
	1/2	₦2,800	₦3,400
	3/4	₦4,900	₦5,700
Obeche	1/4	₦1,500	₦1,900
	1/2	₦2,200	₦3,700
	3/4	₦4,000	₦4,600
Mgs	1/4	₦1,600	₦2,000
Marine	3/4	₦8,200	₦12,000
Resin Coated	1/4	₦3,000	₦4,500
	1/2	₦3,200	₦6,500
	3/4	₦4,000	₦7,500
Veener	1/4	₦2,500	₦3,700
	1/2	₦4,000	₦6,500
	3/4	₦6,500	₦8,500
Softwood (2x3x14)		₦350	₦550
Softwood (2x2x14)		₦300	₦450
Softwood (Palm Plank 1x9x12)		₦1,800	₦2,500
Softwood (1x2x12)		₦1,000	₦1,700

Sand And Earthworks

The current price of building materials in Nigeria will not be constant especially when it comes to a material like sand.

Since it’s a natural resource, the price may fluctuate due to seasonal changes and they exist in different forms from silty, slightly silty to sharp sand which many prefer.

The sharp sand is mostly used in a water-logged area

Although using silty sand is not advisable for moulding blocks and in making foundations, beams, slabs and columns, a lot of people find themselves in such areas where such types of sand are in abundance.

Laterite otherwise called earthworks is orange or brown depending on the depth of the soil from which it is taken and it’s very good for back-filling the building.

The current price of this building material in Nigeria differs from location to location and it can be gotten in abundance at an ongoing road construction site.

SAND/EARTHWORKS	MINIMUM PRICE	MAXIMUM PRICE
20 Tons of Relatively smooth sand	₦90,000	₦100,000
20 Tons of Sharp sand	₦60,000	₦70,000
20 Tons Plastering sand	₦90,000	₦100,000
20 Tons Sharp sand filling	₦55,000	₦60,000
20 Tons Laterite	₦48,000	₦50,000
20 Tons Filling sand (fairly silty)	₦55,000	₦60,000
20 Tons Filling sand (black soil)	₦45,000	₦50,000
20 Tons of Filling material (Rubbles)	₦45,000	₦50,000
20 Tons of Sharp Coarse Sand	₦42,000	₦45,000
20 Tons Sharp Coarse (Not Very Silty)	₦30,000	₦33,000
20 Tons Sharp Coarse (Average Silty)	₦40,000	₦45,000
7 Tons of Very Smooth Sand	₦25,000	₦28,000
7 Tons of Fairly Smooth Sand	₦18,000	₦20,000
7 Tons of Sticky Smooth Sand	₦25,000	₦28,000

Windows

The price of building materials in Nigeria is constantly increasing and the cost of buying and installation of windows is increasing too.

Windows are made of so many materials such as glass, aluminium, bronze and even wood.

Concerning the current price of building materials in Nigeria, there is a leap in the price of windows which includes the workmanship.

TYPES	DIMENSION (mm)	ALUMINIUM GLAZED	BRONZE PLATED
Casement	600 x 600	₦7,000 to ₦8,000	₦7,500 to ₦8,000
	600 x 750	₦7,000 to ₦7,500	₦9,000 to ₦10,500
	750 x 750	₦7,250 to ₦8,000	₦9,000 to ₦10,500
	900 x 1200	₦10,000 to ₦20,000	₦26,000 to ₦30,000
	1200 x 1200	₦18,000 to ₦22,500	₦30,000 to ₦35,000
	1800 x 1200	₦19,000 to ₦25,000	₦33,000 to ₦37,000
Sliding	600 x 600	₦4,500 to ₦5,500	₦6,500 to ₦7,000
	600 x 750	₦5,500 to ₦6,500	₦7,000 to ₦8,000
	750 x 750	₦5,000 to ₦6,000	₦8,000 to ₦9,000
	900 x 1200	₦10,000 to ₦12,000	₦26,000 to ₦30,000
	1200 x 1200	₦10,000 to ₦14,000	₦19,000 to ₦22,000
	1800 x 1200	₦12,000 to ₦15,000	₦20,000 to ₦24,000
Fixed	600 x 600	₦3,500 to ₦5,000	₦6,500 to ₦8,000
	600 x 750	₦5,500 to ₦6,500	₦7,000 to ₦8,000
	750 x 750	₦5,000 to ₦6,000	₦8,000 to ₦9,000
	900 x 1200	₦9,000 to ₦11,000	₦14,000 to ₦16,000
	1200 x 1200	₦10,000 to ₦12,000	₦16,000 to ₦20,000
	1800 x 1200	₦12,000 to ₦14,000	₦18,000 to ₦22,000

Tiles

Tiles are thin breakable plates manufactured from marble, granite and other precious stones.

They exist in ceramic, porcelain, stone, marble, clay, slate and glass and are commonly used in covering internal walls, roofs, floors etc just for functional and decorative purposes.

The increase in the price of building materials in Nigeria is also evident in the price of tiles as seen below.

TYPE	DIMENSION (mm)	FAIR QUALITY	HIGH QUALITY
Ceramics	30 x 30	₦1,500	₦2,800
	40 x 40	₦1,650	₦3,200
	60 x 60	₦3,300	₦5,500
	60 x 120	₦8,400	₦15,850
Unpolished	30 x 30	₦1,900	₦3,100
	40 x 40	₦2,500	₦3,200
	30 x 60	₦3,500	₦4,000
Polished	30 x 30	₦2,500	₦3,400
	40 x 40	₦2,650	₦3,000
Granite Tiles	30 x 30	₦6,300	₦14,500
	40 x 40	₦6,500	₦18,000
	30 x 60	₦5,500	₦19,500
	60 x 60	₦7,700	₦22,500
Glazed Ceramic	25 x 40 (white)	₦1,000	₦2,800
	20 x 50 (white)	₦1,200	₦2,900
	25 x 60 (white)	₦1,300	₦3,000
	25 x 40 (coloured)	₦1,100	₦2,800
	20 x 50 (coloured)	₦1,100	₦3,000
	25 x 60 (coloured)	₦1,250	₦3,150
Mosaic Tiles	30 x 30	₦2,600	₦3,300
Ceramic Skirting	30 x 30	₦200	₦750
Porcelain Skirting	30 x 30	₦300	₦900

Factors Influencing The Price Of Building Materials In Nigeria In 2023

However, while we expect the price of building materials in Nigeria to decrease, we ought to know the factors that cause these prices to increase.

Below are the factors influencing the price of building materials in Nigeria.

Foreign Exchange Rate

The price of building materials in Nigeria depends on the foreign exchange rate which is unstable, most times it’s on the high side and it directly affects imported steel rods, fixtures, etc.

Read Also: Building Codes In Nigeria: Overview, New Types & Purposes

It follows this rule, the higher the exchange rate, the higher the price of imported building materials.

Inflation Rate

The inflation rate in Nigeria is often caused by the increase in fuel prices and this directly affects every other aspect of the economy. Cement, Sand, and Steel rods the cost of all the building materials will increase automatically.

Cost Of Transportation

The current price of building materials in Nigeria is mainly due to the high cost of transportation as a result of poor road conditions, high fuel prices etc.

In that case, the cost of moving the materials from place to place including other charges all add up and affect the price at the buyer’s end.

Availability And Demand

Seasons naturally affect and will even impact the current price of building materials in Nigeria in 2023.

The higher the demand for certain building materials, the lower the supply and availability.

The current price of building materials in Nigeria like cement may reduce in the rainy season and increase during the dry season.

This is because people will not carry out building projects in the rainy season but many will do in the dry season.

Government Policies

Some policies from the government may not favour the prices of building materials in Nigeria. Tariffs on imported goods, taxes at the borders or prices set by the unions directly contribute to the current price of building materials in Nigeria.

Location Of Purchase

The price of building materials in a developing area and a well-developed place will be different. Due to several factors like the cost of living, the demography of the people around that area will increase the price of building materials.

The Type Of Brand

The price of building materials in Nigeria differs from brand to brand. For example, the current price of Dangote cement is much higher than for other cement brands. The same goes for steel rods, doors, windows, kitchen and toilet fixtures etc.

Solutions To Reduce The High Price Of Building Materials In Nigeria

Below are some of the solutions to reduce the high price of building materials in Nigeria.

• Local production of building materials should be increased on a large scale, the price and over-dependence on imported ones will reduce automatically.
• Reduction of taxes and tariffs.
• Government should streamline the importation process.
• Promotion of the use of alternative building materials such as bricks instead of blocks should be encouraged in Nigeria.
• The importation process should be streamlined in a way that will make it easier and faster to import the materials.
• Regulation of government policies can help reduce the price of building materials in Nigeria

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts On The Price Of Building Materials In Nigeria

Nowadays, carrying out a building project from start to finish is more expensive than before due to the increase in the price of building materials in Nigeria.

Whether you are in Nigeria or the diaspora and you want to establish yourself in the real estate industry, it’s necessary to keep up to date with the current price of building materials in Nigeria to have an estimated budget.

Are we talking about cement or reinforcement work and even the workmanship?

It’s important to know that the current price of building materials in Nigeria in 2023 may not be the same in the coming year due to so many factors such as inflation rate, high foreign exchange rate, seasonal changes etc.

So it’s advisable to have an estimate which will depend on the brand, quality and quantity of building materials you want.