ASSESSMENT OF COMMON STRUCTURAL BUILDING MATERIALS AND THEIR QUALITY IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL, NIGERIA

This study examines the common material components used in building structures within Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abuja, Nigeria, highlighting their prevalence, quality, and structural suitability. A mixed method approach was employed, including field surveys of 348 buildings, laboratory testing of cement, steel reinforcement, and aggregates, environmental monitoring, and interviews with 30 construction professionals. Results show that cement and sand are the most widely used materials, present in 100% and 90% of buildings, respectively, while steel reinforcement and granite were used in 84% and 76% of structures. Laboratory tests indicate that steel reinforcement bars exhibit an average tensile strength of 690.4 MPa (SD = 72.1), exceeding the Nigerian standard minimum of 500 MPa, and cement samples display a mean 28-day compressive strength of 38.2 MPa (SD = 3.5), above the standard threshold of 32.5 MPa. Aggregate analyses revealed favorable properties for concrete production, with an Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV) of 18.5% (SD = 3.2), Aggregate Impact Value (AIV) of 22.4% (SD = 4.1), and water absorption of 0.65% (SD = 0.15), all meeting British Standards. Perception surveys indicated moderate to high availability and quality for key materials, with cement scoring 4.7 (availability) and 4.1 (quality) on a 5-point scale, while steel scored 4.2 and 4.0 respectively. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between material availability and perceived quality (ρ = 0.68, p = 0.024). The findings underscore the reliance on conventional materials such as reinforced concrete, sandcrete blocks, steel, and timber, while highlighting variability in material quality and the need for strengthened regulatory oversight, quality control, and sustainable material adoption to ensure structural durability and safety in AMAC.