The sixth edition of Big 5 Construct Nigeria, the country’s leading construction industry event, has opened at the Landmark Centre, Lagos, bringing together more than 170 exhibitors from over 20 countries to showcase solutions and expertise for Nigeria’s estimated $54 billion construction market.
The three-day event, which runs until September 24, was officially inaugurated by Engr. Valerie Ifueko Agberagba, Deputy President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). Organisers said more than 10,000 industry professionals are expected to attend the event.
The opening ceremony attracted diplomats, trade officials and industry stakeholders, including Ahmed Abdelfatah, Acting Executive Director, Export Council for Building Materials, Egypt; Alessandro Okigbo, Trade Analyst, ITA Lagos; Andrea Perugini, Commercial Attaché, Embassy of Italy; Iacopo Foti, Acting Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria; Maurizio Ferri, Director, ITA Lagos; Erdal Fatih Tozoğlu, Turkish Commercial Attaché; and Dr. Michael Halim Tawadros, President, Egyptian Community in Nigeria.
Among the leading brands exhibiting at the event are Mikano International, Saint-Gobain, CDK Integrated, Bifem Paralu, Asian Paints, Abumet, Bosch and Dalal Steel Industries, with products and solutions spanning power generation, building materials, facades, coatings and construction technology.
Speaking on the opening, Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President, dmg events, said Nigeria’s large population and growing construction needs continued to create opportunities across the sector.
“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 reflects that momentum. There is a clear appetite for new connections, expertise and opportunities,” she said.
Big 5 Talks Focus on Construction Delivery, Risks
Beyond the exhibition, more than 30 CPD-certified Big 5 Talks are taking place over the three days, with sessions examining market realities, project delivery challenges, risk management and rising construction costs.
Delivering the opening keynote on “Nigeria’s Construction Outlook 2026,” Engr. Agberagba said the country was not short of construction demand but needed stronger capacity to translate projects into completed and sustainable assets.
“Nigeria’s construction outlook for 2026 is not waiting for demand — the demand is already there. It is our collective capacity to deliver,” she said.
She urged stakeholders to move from a pipeline of ideas to “a pipeline of bankable, executable and maintainable assets.”
Agberagba referenced Nigeria’s population of about 232 million, rapid urbanisation and the ₦23.9 trillion capital expenditure budget allocated to power, transport and water in 2025, arguing that the major challenge was not a shortage of projects but the delivery and maintenance of completed infrastructure.
She therefore called for a shift from a “building-led” to a “development-led” mindset.
Also speaking on project risks, Bldr. Adetunji Adeniran, Registrar/Secretary, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), warned that unresolved risks could escalate and disrupt construction projects.
“Risks don’t disappear because you ignore them. If anything, they fester and take you unawares,” he said.
Adeniran highlighted exposure to global and local shocks, including the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on steel and diesel prices as well as domestic cement supply disruptions. He advocated clear governance structures, designated risk owners, live risk registers and a single source of project information.
Experts Examine Road Construction Challenges
A high-level panel on road projects, moderated by Omikunle Abiodun of Deloitte Nigeria, also examined cost escalation, material availability and project delivery risks.
The panel featured Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, CEO, ABM Infrastructure Advisory; Oluwatimilehin Adegoke, Head of Construction, Alexander Arthur; QS Timilehin Idowu, Palton Morgan; and Wale Bamgbelu, Orion Consulting.
Meanwhile, Abimbola Onagbade, Head, Brand and Marketing Communications, CDK Integrated, said the event provided an avenue for the company to connect with industry professionals, unveil new design collections and develop business relationships.
“Big 5 Construct Nigeria gives us an opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals, showcase our new design collections and build new relationships,” she said.
The event is supported by Bifem Paralu as Silver Sponsor, Bosch as Bronze Sponsor, Confam as Big 5 Talks Silver Sponsor and Dalal Steel Industries as Lanyard Sponsor.
Supporting associations include CIOB, Green Building Council Nigeria, BIM Africa and NIQS, while PMI Nigeria serves as Knowledge Partner.
Big 5 Construct Nigeria 2026 is free for trade professionals aged 18 and above and will close on September 24.