The construction giant made the call during the Future Cities Summit 2026, organised by the Green Building Council Nigeria (GBCN) in Lagos under the theme, “Building the Future: Scaling Sustainability for Greener Cities.”
The summit brought together stakeholders from across the built environment to examine practical strategies for promoting sustainable construction, improving urban resilience and driving Nigeria’s transition to environmentally friendly cities.
Representing Julius Berger on the second and final day of the event, the company’s Regional Manager, Engr. Thomas Christl, participated as a panellist during a plenary session titled, “Materials, Methods, and Margins: Low Carbon Construction Constraints and Opportunities.” The company’s Chief Risk Officer, Mrs. Shakira Mustapha, also attended the summit.
The panel included industry leaders from Saint-Gobain Nigeria, Alitheia Capital and Enflor, with discussions focusing on the financial, technical and policy challenges slowing the adoption of sustainable building practices.
Speaking during the session, Christl identified the high initial cost of low-carbon construction as one of the biggest obstacles facing the industry. However, he argued that evaluating projects over their entire lifespan reveals substantial economic and environmental returns.
He said although sustainable buildings may require greater upfront investment, they ultimately reduce maintenance expenses, improve operational efficiency and lower energy consumption, making them more cost-effective over the long term.
Christl also advocated the wider use of recycled concrete, describing it as an important solution for reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector. According to him, reusing concrete from demolished structures would significantly cut reliance on newly manufactured materials while contributing to a circular economy.
He urged the establishment of clear regulatory standards and stronger cooperation among universities, construction firms, manufacturers and government agencies to promote the safe and widespread use of recycled concrete in Nigeria.
The Julius Berger executive further stressed that the industry’s challenge is no longer the availability of technical expertise but ensuring that research findings and emerging innovations are effectively shared across the construction value chain.
He noted that architects, engineers, contractors, procurement professionals and project owners must remain informed about advances in greener construction materials and sustainable building technologies to improve adoption.
Participants at the summit agreed that stronger partnerships involving government institutions, academia, financial organisations and the private sector would be essential to overcoming financial, technical and regulatory barriers to low-carbon construction.
Julius Berger also commended the Green Building Council Nigeria for creating a platform that encourages dialogue, innovation and knowledge sharing on sustainable urban development, describing such engagements as vital to building environmentally responsible and resilient cities for the future.
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