# House Construction Cost Planning: Abuja, Nigeria > Abuja house cost planning using the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index of 72.8, plus a GeoNames-based local comparable-search shortlist. - Canonical: https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/house-construction-cost-abuja-ng/ - Last updated: 2026-09-15 - Data source: National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/NGA/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames NG dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/NG.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 2352778). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | National construction PLI | 72.8 (World Bank ICP 2021; World = 100) | | Screening ratio to world | 0.728 (dimensionless PLI ÷ 100; not a city location factor) | | Locality reference | 9.0579, 7.4951 (GeoNames ID 2352778) | | Snapshot population | 2,690,000 (4 of 50 listed Nigeria places) | | Nearest listed peer | Minna · 121 km (great-circle distance between GeoNames reference points) | | Estimate currency | NGN (obtain a current local rate and named base date) | ## Direct answer For early house construction cost planning in Abuja, the World Bank ICP reports a 2021 Nigeria construction price-level index of 72.8, with the world equal to 100. This is a national comparison—not a Abuja NGN/m² rate or tender estimate—so replace it with current local evidence before budgeting or procurement. The observation covers construction across Nigeria in 2021; it does not measure a Abuja market basket or current house tenders. GeoNames 2352778 records the locality at 9.0579, 7.4951, with snapshot population 2,690,000. That ranks Abuja 4 of 50 listed places, while Minna is the nearest listed peer at about 121 km. Use these facts only to plan the comparable search. Obtain current local rates on a consistent area basis, then reconcile scope, taxes, fees, contingency and escalation. Retain the source, base date and reviewer when local evidence replaces the screening ratio. *Content and cited inputs reviewed by [Scott Barrington](https://nz.linkedin.com/in/barrington), Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-15.* ## What does the 72.8 construction index mean? The World Bank ICP 2021 construction PLI for **Nigeria is 72.8**, compared with a world benchmark of 100. It is a national spatial price comparison assembled for the 2021 reference year. It does not say that house work in Abuja costs 0.728 times a current world rate. ## Which Abuja inputs are known? The reproducible locality point is **9.0579, 7.4951** (GeoNames 2352778). Its snapshot population is **2,690,000**, ranked 4 of 50 listed places; GeoNames classifies it as a national capital in administrative area 11. These facts shape the local comparable search, not the price. ## What must a project estimate add? For a Abuja house project, reconcile dwelling size, structural system, envelope specification, kitchens and bathrooms. Use a consistent gross-floor-area basis and record the following before reliance. | Estimate field | Screening record | Project requirement | | --- | --- | --- | | National context | ICP 2021 PLI 72.8 | Retain only as dated cross-country context | | Local NGN/m² rate | Not supplied | Current comparable with named source and base date | | Area and scope | Gross floor area; scope unresolved | Measurement standard, specification and procurement route | | Additions | Not supplied | Taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation | | Review | Automated source and arithmetic QA | Qualified local cost review | ## Abuja comparable-location search screen This shortlist is computed from the checked GeoNames snapshot. Distance and population help prioritize where to request comparables; neither is used as a cost multiplier. | Listed place | Great-circle km from Abuja | Snapshot population | Admin area | | --- | ---: | ---: | --- | | Minna | 121 | 425,000 | 31 | | Bida | 163 | 400,000 | 31 | | Kaduna | 163 | 1,850,000 | 23 | | Jos | 181 | 1,040,000 | 49 | | Makurdi | 186 | 390,000 | 26 | | Port Harcourt | 479 | 2,120,000 | 50 | | Ibadan | 437 | 3,649,000 | 32 | | Benin City | 366 | 1,782,000 | 37 | ## Price-level normalization worksheet For a validated reference rate **R** from a country with construction PLI **P**, the transparent screening calculation is **R × (72.8 ÷ P)**. At P = 100 the dimensionless ratio is 0.728; no world cost rate is asserted. Keep the reference rate's currency, base date, area basis and scope attached. | Input | Recorded value | Release condition | | --- | --- | --- | | Target national PLI | 72.8 (World = 100, 2021) | Screening context only | | Reference construction PLI P | User-supplied from the same ICP classification/year | Must match reference rate country | | Validated reference rate R | User-supplied | Named source, currency, date, area and scope | | Local Abuja adjustment | Not asserted | Replace with current local comparable evidence | | Result status | Screening normalization | Not a budget, quote or tender estimate | ## Where can you explore related guidance? - [Explore all construction costs guidance](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs.md) - [Office Construction Cost Planning: Abuja, Nigeria](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/office-construction-cost-abuja-ng.md) - [School Construction Cost Planning: Abuja, Nigeria](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-abuja-ng.md) - [Retail Construction Cost Planning: Abuja, Nigeria](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/retail-construction-cost-abuja-ng.md) - [House Construction Cost Planning: Minna, Nigeria](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/house-construction-cost-minna-ng.md) - [All construction costs guidance for Nigeria](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/nigeria.md) - [Climate Design Data: Abuja, Nigeria](https://harth.build/resources/climate-data/climate-design-data-abuja-ng.md) - [Sun Path: Abuja, Nigeria](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/sun-path-abuja-ng.md) ## Sources and method National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/NGA/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames NG dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/NG.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 2352778). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate. ### Source links - [api.worldbank.org](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/NGA/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) - [worldbank.org](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data) - [download.geonames.org](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/NG.zip) ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the 72.8 index give a house cost per m² for Abuja? No. 72.8 is the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index for Nigeria, with the world equal to 100. It is a cross-country screening statistic, not a Abuja NGN/m² rate, escalation index, quote or tender estimate. ### How should a Abuja house estimate replace this screening benchmark? Collect current Abuja comparables on a consistent gross-floor-area basis, reconcile dwelling size, structural system, envelope specification, kitchens and bathrooms, and state base date, currency, taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation. A qualified local cost professional should review the resulting project estimate. --- - Continue in Harth (open this topic in the Harth agent): https://app.harth.build/agent?context=%2Fresources%2Fconstruction-costs%2Fhouse-construction-cost-abuja-ng%2F - View this page in a browser: https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/house-construction-cost-abuja-ng/ - All resources for agents: https://harth.build/llms.txt