This research aimed to understand the local housing typology and practices, local available materials and skills to help Shelter Cluster TWIG to design the early recovery housing solutions for returns in North East Nigeria

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LOCAL CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES
&
HOUSING TYPOLOGIES
BORNO STATE, NIGERIA
An ancient building in Dikwa LGA, Borno state, Nigeria
This research was part of the Mercy Corps efforts to provide appropriate
sheltering solutions for IDPs and Returnees
FEBRUARY, 2018

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Abstract: Traditional local structures across Northern Nigeria shows an articulated
response to the climate, local technology and socio-economic background where these
evolved. Local construction practice relates with the natural materials available to the
local practitioners, religious beliefs, culture and taboos. This survey aimed at
understanding the context of local construction practices and to explore the type of local
materials used in housing construction in Borno state in general. Mercy Corps
conducted the sample research in three LGAs of Damboa, Ngala and Dikwa.
Locally, the materials that are used in rehabilitating building in all the three context are
the same. Straw mats, clay, and twigs are the affordable material usually used in local
construction. Large quantity of these material could be sourced from the surrounding
bushes with little money because of the high demand. However, in all the three
communities, water is expressed as a huge challenge for construction of any type; block
house or mud house or mix. One can see returnees and IDPs buying water for
construction from the cart pushers in 20liter jerry cans.
Introduction:
The term local construction practice is used to describe all raw materials and the
technologies that is used by local practitioners in all the context for construction of
buildings/ shelters: There are basically four categories of housing shelter commonly used
by returnees and IDPs leaving within host communities: The concrete block house, Gidan
block, clay brick house Gidan Jalab, mud house Bani Bani and the thatch house Gidan
Zaana. The design of these categories of buildings/shelter is a reflection of the cultural
lifestyle and represents the symbol of their heritage. Thus, five main factors determine
the forms of traditional/local houses in this community:
(i) Local custom and tradition
(ii) The need for security and privacy
(iii) The skill and building materials available in the community
(iv) The structure of family and kingship.
(v) The financial status of the IDPs/client
In all the context, markets are partially functioning but must of the returnees and IDPs
leaving within the host communities are having difficulties in resource to rehabilitate there
houses.
In Damboa, the shelter team conducted sessions within Shuwari, Kachalla Burari Gana,
Kachalla Burari Kura and Aburi communities with artisans (Carpenters, masons, local
brick layers, and irons benders) from different field. During the visit to Shuwari community,
the members of Masons and Hand Work Development Association were also in
attendance and the sessions has been really interactive and a lot of experiences were
shared on how locally houses are been constructed in Damboa.

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In Gamboru-Ngala context, Majority of returnees of Gamboru community have returned
to their homes or compound. Residents of nearby villages are sharing with relatives who
live in the community. Must of the houses are destroyed or damaged by rain (mud houses)
while the AOG burned mostly the block houses, with residents having no capacity to
rebuild their houses. Some are living in makeshift shelters locally constructed with
traditional materials. Two sessions were conducted each in Gamboru and Ngala
communities with artisans and CRC, the materials and the techniques use in local
construction is the same as Damboa and Dikwa. Gamboru town is bordering with
Cameroun, it serves as commercial center where most of the trans-border trading
between Nigeria and Cameroun is taking place. Ngala is more Urban that Gamboru, all
the civil building; schools, government estate, military base and police station are located.
There are two IDPs camp in Ngala; Arabic and International camps where IDPs are taking
refuge. INTERSOS, IOM and MRRR are the implementing partners for UNHRC in terms
of shelter. According to the INTERSOS focal person in Arabic camp, they had constructed
about 1000 shelters in order to decongest International camp into Arabic IDPs camp since
last year but up to now about 50% of the shelters are still not occupied due to what they
attributed as lack of economic activities for the IDPs camp because the camp is newly set
up. MRRR shelter construction is still on going in Arabic camp despite the fact that even
INTERSOS shelters that were constructed are still not occupied.
A land for the proposed construction of shelter that was allocated by the Ngala district
head is still not put into use during the period of the visit. However, according to SEMA
and the district head, they said that military has put a condition for any partner that has
plan for shelter construction to provide perimeter fencing.
In Dikwa context, four sessions were conducted within four communities with local
artisans, the techniques use in local construction is the same with that of Damboa and
Ngala. Clay is readily available but water for construction is not readily available.
The Mud House (Bani Bani) Construction
The Bani Bani house is a form of building
constructed mainly of clay mud. The earth is
dug out from a borrow pit carefully selected
by the builder from which a thick paste is
made. The paste is usually a mixture of earth,
cow dung, grass and ground nut pods. This
mixture is essential as it gives the paste
plasticity, compressive and tensile strength.
Mixed to workability, the thick paste is laid in
courses. A course of about 450mm is laid per day and allowed to dry before additional
course is laid. This process will continue until the headroom is achieved. This practice is

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necessary to checkmate collapse due to dead loads. From the field information gathered,
the Bani Bani mud house has higher life span than the locally clay brick house type
according to the most of community members.
Plastering
Generally, the plaster is the element that is directly exposed to Rainfall, Sunlight, and
Human activities. Thus, it is expected to form a protective layer to the walls. To achieve
this, the local practitioners in all thecontext adopt the use of applying boiled bituminous
material to already mixed clay paste. Cement mortar for plastering is not usually used in
in all the context for Bani Bani type of construction because of its inability to adhere to the
type of earth used. The bituminous material which is sourced from the market is mixed
with kerosene and used engine oil (in the ratio of 4:2:5 liter) then boiled until its melts
completely. While still hot, the boiled material is mixed with the clay paste then applied
on the walls. The mixture of paste and the bituminous material produces a durable
waterproofing material, which also give a hard surface and hinders the activity of termites
on the building. However, the inhabitants of this type of building affirmed that the use of
bituminous materials also contributes to ambient room temperature of Bani Bani type of
building. However, according to the most of the community members, the use of the
bituminous material in plastering is expensive.

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Roofing Material
The local material for roofing in all the
context is Azara/Giginya/Kersim beams
but is not readily available in the market.
A fibrous plank obtained from the trunk
of palm tree. It is strong, durable and
resistance to termite attacks. It replaces
timber as a roofing materials in mud
houses in most of the communities.
Timber wood is the most readily
avaiblae in the market.
Fig.5 Local timber profiles for roofing Azara/Giginya/Kersim
The Thatch House Gidan Zaana
The practice of using thatch mat in
constructing shelter is common in
Northern Nigeria but differs across the
state in architectural forms as a result of
the difference in cultural lifestyle, the
skill of local artisans and the availability
of material. In all the context, most of the
returnees whose houses were burnt and
the IDPs are living in a make-shift
shelters made of Zaana. Thus, living in Zaana shelter is not an attempt to preserve
tradition but an unavoidable condition forced on the returnees and IDPs by economic
factors and this is what is locally available for immediate shelter for most of the returnees
and IDPs.
The Construction of Straw mat Zaana House
1. Walls
The common materials used are Zaana
(7ftX14ft), Azara/Giginya/Kersim beams which
are about 11ft in length, or strong timber, Kara
(corn stalks) and tarpaulin. The shelter
dimension is marked out and foundation for the
wooden frames are dug (2ft deep) at
appropriate space of about 6ft, enough to allow
for lapping of the Zaana mat on the structural

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frame. The Azara/Giginya/Kersim is
installed in foundation and kept in
place with the aid of broken stones
and backfilled. Bunch of Kara which
are matted are then placed on the
frames and connected with rope to
form a wall layer on which the Zaana
is spread and tied firmly. The internal
side of wall is covered with bag mat or
tarpaulin to give a good finish.
Raw Material for construction of the hatch house called Kara.
2. Roof
A simple flat roof is commonly used in Zaana shelter in all the context. The roof is made
by fixing a layer of Kara mat on the skillfully arranged Azara/Giginya/Kersim beams,
followed by spreading the tarpaulin which serves to shed away water from the inner roof
and also prevent light rays. The Zaana is then use as roofing cover as shown below
Fig. Thatch roof covered with tarpaulin. Fig. Thatch roof covered with polythene.
The Construction of local bricks house.
In all the context, clay is readily available, the people of the communities mostly use the
clay as local construction material in place of cement and fine aggregate (sand) for local
bricks houses. The clay is locally processed to produce a locally clay bricks for the
construction of local houses. The mode of the mix and production is done by wetting the
clay alongside Ground-nut shell or dry grass to aid in reinforcing the local bricks making
it more strong, and durable. The wetting process is done for two to three days before
mixing and molding it in to bricks of different sizes (6inch and 8inch) molders, which is
left to dry for 3days, and the means of curing is done by exposing the mold bricks to sun
and wind.

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Locally made clay bricks
These clay are of various texture, fineness and color (Red, Black). In all the context, the
local brick layers elaborated that the Red clay is stickier and good for the local bricks
house construction than the black clay that is mostly found in all the context.
The laying of the locally made clay bricks are also done in similar form/way to that of the
conventional cement block work, which is four to five course per day. And the chucking
can be done by the clay paste mixed with bituminous materials or cement mortar. Same
is carryout to the plastering of the walls. But most of the communities (masons) also
discourage the use of cement/sand mortar to plaster the walls, because it has lots of
disadvantage compare to the normal clay mortar, according to the most of the
communities, the reason is that using the clay mortar for plastering has more bonding
that the cement mortar especially when the building is exposed to rain fall.

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A wall constructed with locally made bricks
Conclusion
Generally in all the context, there is large shelter needs especially among the returnees
and IDPs leaving within the host communities. The level of destructions of buildings are
enormous due to the conflict, the returnees and IDPs are leaving in make shift shelters,
uncompleted or burned houses while some of the houses especially block houses were
partially rehabilitated by Borno State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and
Resettlement (MRRR).
According to all communities, the rehabilitation done by MRRR had targeted only the
block houses and the rehabilitation has apparently stopped. Most of the rehabilitation
targeted only block houses at the moment, the mud houses have not been targeted.
During our visit to most of the community, the structures that were burned are of various
degrees; some needs roofing materials, some needs minor or major rehabilitation. The
local construction practice though a reflection of the cultural lifestyle and the technology
of the people, it is burdened by several technical and functional challenges.
Recommendations
1. Efforts should be geared towards harmonizing the local and contemporary
construction practice.
2. The socio-cultural and religious beliefs of the communities in shelter design styles,
materials and method of construction has to be considered during our shelter
assistance.
3. Masons and Hand Work Associations may help in defining the daily wages and
sourcing the skilled artisans. These association could be engaged to support a
construction related trades’ vocational training projects under livelihood programs

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4. Some of the IDPs and returnees occupying the houses of absent owners without
the consensus and approval. Some IDPs and returnees belong to majority tribe
are occupying despite of owners’ requests to evacuate. HLP rights for the IDPs
and returnees need attention from shelter actors. Existing traditional and religious
leadership are instrumental especially when it comes to returnees and shelter
occupiers’ issues that may arise.
5. There is a need to target the extremely vulnerable families lacking shelter instead
of vulnerable structures or specific type of structures. Huge worries expressed by
returnees and IDPs living in mud houses because most of rehabilitation done by
the Ministry of Reconstruction Rehabilitation and Resettlement (MRRR) targeted
only block house.
6. Roofing materials has been observed as the major need in most of the destroyed
and/or burnet. Market based approach should be adopted wherever the market is
functional. Value voucher should be opted as the modality to provide shelter
assistance to enable the target household living in different size and type should
have choice to fix their critical housing needs.
7. There are huge livelihood opportunities associated to construction sector which
could enable the communities to self-recover and/or self-build their critical shelter
needs. There should be some efforts to design a comprehensive early recovery
livelihood program which could play a vital role in reviving the local market, could
build the communities to have access to an appropriate shelter as per their needs
and could create livelihood opportunities especially for returns.
8. In all the context, water is not readily available for construction, clay in large
quantity are locally sourced from borrow pits with little amount of money and straw
mats are also locally purchase in the market. It is recommended that the CFW
should capture these items during the implementation.

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