- The event runs until 24 September at the Landmark Centre, gathering more than 170 exhibitors from over 20 countries
- More than 30 CPD-certified sessions will take place at Big 5 Talks across three days, addressing the market realities, delivery risks and cost pressures influencing Nigeria’s construction pipeline.
Big 5 Construct Nigeria officially opened its sixth edition at the Landmark Centre today. Inaugurated by Engr Agberagba Valerie Ifueko, Deputy President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the event runs until 24 September, gathering more than 170 exhibitors from over 20 countries.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Ahmed Abdelfatah, Acting Executive Director, Export Council for Building Materials, Refractory & Metallurgy Industries; Alessandro Okigbo, Trade Analyst (CRM, Heavy Machinery, Agribusiness, Innovation and Technology & Construction Sector), ITA Lagos; Andrea Perugini, Commercial Attaché at the Embassy of Italy in Abuja; Dr. Michael Halim Tawadros, President of the Egyptian Community in Nigeria; Erdal Fatih Tozoğlu, Turkish Commercial Attaché; Iacopo Foti, Acting Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria; Maurizio Ferri, Director, ITA Lagos; Mohamed Attya, Egypt Pavilion Manager, EECA; and Mohamed Nedal, Administrative Attaché, ECS; Osama Mohey Alden, Minister Plenipotentiary, ECS.
With over 10,000 expected attendees, Big 5 Construct Nigeria connects contractors, developers, architects, engineers and project owners with international suppliers and solutions spanning the construction value chain and supporting Nigeria’s $54 billion construction sector, which is forecast to grow by around 3.1% in 2026 (Source: Market Research; ResearchandMarkets).
Commenting on the opening of Big 5 Construct Nigeria, Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President, dmg events, said: “Being Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria continues to attract significant opportunities across its construction landscape and the energy we're seeing on the opening day of Big 5 Construct Nigeria reflects that momentum. From business conversations on the exhibition floor to the discussions taking place through Big 5 Talks, there is a clear appetite for new connections, expertise and opportunities. We look forward to seeing these conversations develop over the next three days and to the business activity and ideas that emerge from them.”
Leading international and Nigerian brands, including Mikano International, Saint-Gobain, CDK Integrated, Bifem Paralu, Asian Paints, Abumet, Bosch and Dalal Steel Industries are showcasing solutions across the exhibition floor, from power generation and building materials to façade systems, coatings and construction technology. The participation of exhibitors reflects the event’s international scale while remaining tailored to Nigeria’s construction and housing needs and giving attendees direct access to products, technologies and expertise from across the construction value chain.
Commenting on their participation, Abimbola Onagbade, Head, Brand and Marketing Communications, CDK Integrated said, “CDK Integrated is pleased to return to Big 5 Construct Nigeria as the construction market continues to evolve and create new opportunities for local manufacturers and suppliers. The event gives us an opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals, showcase our new design collections, understand emerging market needs and build new relationships that can support our continued business growth in Nigeria and across West Africa.”
Professional development through Big 5 Talks
More than 30 CPD-certified Big 5 Talks are taking place alongside the exhibition throughout the three-day event. The talks cover project management, architecture and design, technology, sustainable building materials and facades.
The programme opened with “Nigeria’s construction outlook 2026: Market realities and delivery priorities”, delivered by Engr Agberagba Valerie Ifueko, Deputy President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, who argued that Nigeria's construction sector does not suffer from a lack of demand but from a shortfall in completed and, crucially, maintained projects. Citing a population of around 232 million, rising urbanization and a 2025 capital expenditure budget of ₦23.9 trillion directed at power, transport and water, she urged the industry to move from a "building-led" mindset to a "development-led" one and to treat quality as a discipline that runs from briefing through to construction, rather than a final-stage inspection.
"Nigeria's construction outlook for 2026 is not waiting for demand - the demand is already there," she told delegates. "It is our collective capacity to deliver. We must move from a pipeline of ideas to a pipeline of bankable, executable and maintainable assets."
Fellow speaker Bldr. Adetunji Adeniran, Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria addressed risk management across complex construction environments, strengthening project governance and oversight and the move from compliance to consistent delivery. He set out practical strategies across risk, cost and information management - from mapping exposure at global, industry and project level (noting how the Russia-Ukraine war continues to drive up steel and diesel costs, and pointing to recent cement supply shocks and price spikes) to clear governance structures with named risk owners, live risk registers and a single source of project information to keep delivery consistent and on track.
"Risks don't disappear because you ignore them," he cautioned. "If anything, they fester and take you unawares."
A panel on ‘Constructing road projects in Nigeria: Managing cost, productivity and delivery risks’, moderated by Omikunle Abiodun, Project Manager, Deloitte Nigeria, brought together Engr Aramide Adeyoye, Chief Executive Officer, ABM Infrastructure Advisory; Oluwatimilehin Adegoke, Head of Construction, Alexander Arthur; QS Timilehin Idowu, QS Lead, Palton Morgan Holdings; and Wale Bamgbelu, Managing Partner, Orion Consulting Engineering Services, to discuss managing schedules and delivery risk on major road projects, cost escalation, material availability and procurement, and productivity and quality in project delivery.
Big 5 Construct Nigeria is supported by Platinum Sponsor, CDK Integrated; Silver Sponsor, Bifem Paralu; Bronze Sponsor, Bosch; Big 5 Talks Silver Sponsor, Confam; and Lanyard Sponsor, Dalal Steel Industries. Supporting Associations include the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Green Building Council Nigeria, Building Information Modelling (BIM) Africa and the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), with Project Management Institute (PMI) Nigeria as the Knowledge Partner.
