Nigeria’s Construction Sector Named Africa’s Largest, Compass International Says
Nigeria’s construction sector is now Africa’s largest. That’s according to a 2026 estimate from Compass International, a construction cost consultancy. The firm puts the sector’s value between $140 billion and $185 billion for 2026.
What’s Driving the Estimate
Compass International points to major energy infrastructure as a key factor. This includes the Dangote refinery, which now runs at 650,000 barrels per day. The firm projects Nigeria’s construction sector will grow 3% to 5% in 2026. High inflation and rising material costs remain persistent challenges for developers, however.
A Wide Range of Estimates
Other research firms put Nigeria’s construction market at a fraction of Compass International’s figure. GlobalData estimated the sector closer to $35.7 billion in 2025. A separate industry report cited $44.3 billion instead. The gap likely comes down to methodology, what each firm counts as “construction” activity, and whether formal and informal building activity are both included.
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Why This Matters for Real Estate
Regardless of which estimate is most accurate, the underlying signal stays consistent. Nigeria’s construction sector remains one of Africa’s largest and most active, even as affordability challenges deepen for ordinary buyers. That’s the tension defining Nigeria’s property market right now: a sector large enough to lead the continent, but still struggling to deliver housing most Nigerians can afford.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s construction sector is big, that much is clear. Exactly how big depends on who’s counting, and what gets measured. What matters more for the housing crisis is not the sector’s overall size, but whether that scale eventually translates into homes ordinary Nigerians can actually afford.
PRAISE SAMSON