Investigation of Bamboo as Possible Substitute for Concrete as Main Building Material in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Bamboo is one of the oldest traditional materials used by mankind. They are the largest members of the grass family and are the fastest growing in the world. Bamboo is a substitute building material which is renewable, environment friendly and widely available as the wood resources are diminishing and restrictions are imposed on the felling of the natural 

forest trees. Due to its rapid growth and high yield, adaptability to most climatic conditions and due to its properties, bamboo emerges as a very suitable alternative to concrete in Nigeria where the environment is exposed to diverse natural hazards.

The search for a cheaper construction alternative has led to the exploration of 

abundant, naturally occurring materials such as bamboowhich can be obtained locally at low cost and low levels of energy using local manpower and technology. The use of bamboo as a 

major construction material can cut construction costs by as much as between 30% and 80%. Several studies have shown that bamboo houses have the potentials to address the urban 

housing crisis in the developing countries. On the other hand, there is a wrong perception among the users that “bamboo houses are only used by poor people”. This is very wrong because bamboo houses are abundant in Asian countries and they have been found to last 

about 200 years.

Bamboo use in construction is not new; it has been regularly utilized for building mud houses and small huts in villages for centuries. Bamboo is a durable and exceptionally 

flexible building material. It has been utilized for flooring, walls, roofing, concrete reinforcement, and scaffolding, is light in weight and easily transported.

This document will examine bamboo and its environmental benefits, its properties and qualities in comparison to concrete’s. In Nigeria, the rate of bamboo use is low; therefore, 

this document will investigate bamboo and its uses in Nigeria, conceivable uses that can be embraced demonstrating its accessibility and impacts on the environment in Nigeria.