Assessing the Feasibility of Vernacular Materials in Sustainable Housing Designs in North Eastern Nigeria: A Systematic Literature Review

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@article{1715085,
      author = {S. Umar, H. A. Dadum},
      title = {Assessing the Feasibility of Vernacular Materials in Sustainable Housing Designs in North Eastern Nigeria: A Systematic Literature Review},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {9},
      number = {9},
      pages = {1031-1034},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1715085.pdf},
      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.},
      month = {March},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I9-1715085}
  }