Onome Amuge
When Lafarge Africa Plc unveiled EcoCrete, Nigeria’s first low-carbon ready-mix concrete, in Abuja, industry attention quickly turned beyond the product itself to what it means for the future of the country’s $12 billion construction sector. More than just a new entry in Lafarge’s green product line, EcoCrete’s arrival is being read as a catalyst for a notable sustainability shift in how Nigeria builds its cities, roads, and housing stock.
The event, which brought together builders, engineers, architects, regulators, and sustainability advocates, showcased the fact that construction, while powering infrastructure and urban growth, is one of Nigeria’s biggest contributors to carbon emissions.
According to industry analysts, cement and concrete production alone account for roughly 8 per cent of global CO₂ emissions, and in Nigeria, the figure is disproportionately higher due to rising demand in urban centers. EcoCrete’s promise of at least 20 per cent lower carbon output compared to traditional CEM I concrete therefore represents more than incremental progress.
Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, group managing director/CEO of Lafarge Africa Plc, stressed this wider context in his keynote. “The introduction of EcoCrete is not just about a new product. It is about enabling Nigerian builders and developers to make smart choices that support the country’s transition to a greener economy,” he said.
The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), represented by its president, Alderton Ewa, stated that EcoCrete comes at a pivotal time. Nigeria faces not just housing deficits but also increasing climate vulnerabilities including floods, heat stress, and resource inefficiency. “EcoCrete aligns with the profession’s growing commitment to sustainability,” Ewa noted, calling it both a solution and a challenge for the building sector to adopt greener practices without compromising structural integrity.
Derek Williamson, Lafarge Africa’s Head of Aggregates and Ready-Mix, highlighted EcoCrete’s versatility across residential, commercial, and heavy infrastructure projects. In an industry often skeptical of green alternatives due to perceived performance trade-offs, Lafarge is seen positioning EcoCrete as proof that durability and sustainability are no longer mutually exclusive.
With Nigeria being Africa’s largest cement market, Lafarge’s innovation is likely to pressure rivals to accelerate their own decarbonization plans. Policymakers, too, may seize the opportunity. This is as the federal government has already signaled interest in embedding low-carbon materials into housing and infrastructure schemes, aligning with Nigeria’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2030.
The Abuja launch demonstrated how Lafarge is courting collaboration to overcome challenges such as cost competitiveness, awareness, and contractor adoption.
Product immersion sessions, stakeholder roundtables, and sustainability workshops were central to the event’s design, suggesting that buy-in from industry players is as critical as the product’s technical strengths.
For Lafarge Africa, now part of Huaxin Cement Co. Ltd., EcoCrete adds to its growing suite of climate-friendly innovations while reinforcing its footprint as Nigeria’s leading building solutions provider. With cement operations stretching from Ogun to Cross River and ready-mix plants in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, the company is positioning itself to mainstream low-carbon construction nationwide.
