The BTG Group Nigeria Limited has plans to construct a large scale precast factory to help develop Nigeria housing market. The factory will be put up in Onitsha, the Anambra State capital, where the group has concluded the contract to deliver 1000 housing units for the state government.
This was made known by the BTG Group Executive Chairman, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu during a housing conference held in Abuja to discuss Nigeria’s housing market. He also revealed that the company has already placed an order of precast machinery from Weiler GmbH; a Germany based engineering and manufacturing company for the precast concrete industry.
The precast construction technology involves the production of columns and hollow core wall panels that are based on what is intended to be developed, and later cast on bed and cut to shape then taken to site for mounting, which can apply on either mass housing, town houses, apartment blocks or high-rise towers.
According to Christoph Muller-Bernhardt the Weiler GmbH Head of Sales Department Director, precast is Africa’s housing solution, adding that it saves time and material, it’s a fire, earthquake and hurricane resistant above all, houses that are constructed using the precast technology can last up to a century.
Furthermore, the merit about this construction technology is that, the precast plants are movable making it easier to be erected near the construction site. Apart from time and material saving, the technology also delivers qualitative, affordable and high-quality housing given that Africa experience the ever growing housing demand.
However, according to one of the project investor, Charles Yemi Farimoyo, each geographical zone of the country will have a precast plant as his company is looking forward to partner with the Anambra State government for the project kick-off. Nonetheless, the project will as well have the full support of the First Bank Plc; this was confirmed by Austin Aduku the Retail Banking Group Business Manager.
