Assessing the Feasibility of Vernacular Materials in Sustainable Housing Designs in North Eastern Nigeria: A Systematic Literature Review
Abstract
North Eastern Nigeria is experiencing a severe housing problem as a result of ongoing violence and adverse weather conditions. As of February 2026, 2.33 million people were displaced, living in shelters exposed to temperatures above 40°C and frequent floods (IOM DTM Round 51; UNOCHA, 2025). Conventional cement-based building is becoming more unviable because to high embodied carbon, poor thermal efficiency, and prohibitively expensive costs in the face of annual Naira volatility of more than 30 percent. This research examines the viability of using stabilised vernacular materials specifically Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks (CSEBs), thatch, and local timber into hybrid designs. These variants have vented hybrid roofs and CSEB walls that are linked to elevated concrete foundations via a Damp-Proof Course (DPC). Secondary data synthesis (2017-2026) shows that CSEBs provide superior passive cooling due to their large thermal mass and thermal lag (decrement factors 0.08-0.14), lowering cooling loads by 25-40% while maintaining interior temperatures of 8-12°C cooler. Economically, CSEBs provide 40-70% savings (NGN 57-60 vs. NGN 300+ for concrete) and act as a "FX-hedge" against import-driven inflation. Local sourcing avoids insecure supply-chain checkpoints in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS), while the material's repairability (e.g., patching post-ballistic damage) boosts community-led resilience. These vernacular hybrids, which are embedded in circular economy and decarbonisation frameworks, reduce embodied carbon while also aligning with Nigeria's Paris Agreement obligations. The findings suggest for a hybrid vernacular revival as a culturally sensitive, low-carbon approach to closing the regional housing gap and promoting equitable recovery for displaced populations.
Keywords
Vernacular architecture, North Eastern Nigeria, Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations (FCAS), Passive Design Strategies, Decarbonization.
Citations
IRE Journals:
S. Umar, H. A. Dadum "Assessing the Feasibility of Vernacular Materials in Sustainable Housing Designs in North Eastern Nigeria: A Systematic Literature Review" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 9 2026 Page 1031-1034 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I9-1715085
IEEE:
S. Umar, H. A. Dadum
"Assessing the Feasibility of Vernacular Materials in Sustainable Housing Designs in North Eastern Nigeria: A Systematic Literature Review" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(9) https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I9-1715085
About IRE Journals
IRE Journals is an open access online journals established with an aim to publish high quality of research work in various diciplines. We have more than 6 years in publications. Over 2500+ papers already published.
Important Links
For Authors
Volume 8:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 7:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 6:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 5:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 4:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 3:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12