Authors : Tajudeen Olawale Ajayi; Opeyemi Titi Daramola; Olamide Victor Ojo

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 4 - April

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3p7jycvy

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26apr1451

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Nigeria’s urban housing deficit is increasing alongside rising construction-related greenhouse gas emissions driven by carbon-intensive materials and linear supply chains. This study adopts a systematic review and meta-synthesis approach to examine circular construction materials as pathways for low-carbon housing in Nigeria’s urban communities. A total of 45 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 were identified, screened, and analysed using descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, and comparative synthesis, grounded in circular-economy and life-cycle frameworks. The results indicate that circular material strategies, including earth-based materials, recycled aggregates, industrial byproducts, timber systems, and low-carbon cement alternatives, can achieve embodied carbon reductions of approximately 30–70% while maintaining structural and functional performance. Material substitution, reuse, and local sourcing emerged as the most effective strategies, particularly when integrated across the building life cycle. However, adoption remains constrained by technical capacity gaps, weak regulatory frameworks, fragmented supply chains, limited life-cycle data, and socio-cultural perceptions of alternative materials. The study concludes that circular construction materials provide a practical, scalable, and cost-effective pathway for low-carbon housing in Nigeria. However, their successful mainstreaming requires coordinated policy support, professional capacity development, and strengthened market systems.

Keywords : Circular Economy; Low-Carbon Housing; Circular Construction Materials; Embodied Carbon; Life-Cycle Assessment; Nigerian Urban Housing

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