As part of innovations towards addressing the housing problem in Nigeria, a Kaduna firm, Teku International Farm, has pioneered the construction of houses using bamboo sticks.
Malam Ibrahim Salisu, who is the founder of the firm said the bamboo homes would add to the stock of eco-friendly houses in the country.
He said to ensure the innovative option gains traction, he has trained some youths in the construction of the bamboo houses which, according to him, will be affordable and resistant to the vagaries of climate change.
“I am currently constructing a one-storey building with raw-bamboo trees in the centre of Kaduna which will attract thousands of tourists from other parts of the world. I hope they will come and see the creative designs of a bamboo storey building that is cheap in construction and can last for over 200 years without any problem,” Salisu said.
According to the promoter of the housing idea, “Bamboo is destined to play a major role in the green revolution campaign being pushed by me as more people and businesses choose to build with the versatile and sustainable building material.
“We are creating amazing bamboo structures for schools, hotels, hospitals, homes, stadiums and even bridges,” he added.
He said bamboo creative-design-buildings hold enormous potential for the future of the construction and tourism industry in Nigeria as well as the hope of the poor to own houses in the country.
Salisu added that the bamboo storey building at Unguwan Sarki area of Kaduna, near the famous Folawiyo Pedestrian Bridge, has reached roofing stage.
When completed, the novel one-storey building, measuring 30 by 30 feet would contain six rooms, three toilets, two kitchens and a store.
The Director, African Climate Reporters, Comrade Nurudden Bello, who has been visiting some of the bamboo houses in the state, said one of the best ways to reduce global warming is through the concept of building houses with bamboo sticks.
“Bamboo represents a great resource for eco-friendly structures, thanks to its rapid life cycle (it takes from three to five years to re-grow, while other plants generally need 15). It is suitable for the building market and is increasingly respectful of the planet.
Nurudden, who is a climatologist, said bamboo forests are very friendly to the environment and called on Nigerians to stop bush burning.
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