The paper discusses the effects of building materials (such as asbestos) used in the construction of "Low Cost Housing" estates in Nigeria. Unlike developed economies such as the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, government legislation has not addressed nor attempt to effect laws
governing the use of asbestos in particular. This is coupled with the poor structural engineering that become noticeable in most of the Estates. Recently, there have been reports and cases of residents sudden illnesses, later found to have been caused by types of materials used in construction. Some of the buildings have collapsed or created large cracks with eminent collapse in the near future. The paper thus focus on effects of materials used in the construction of "Low Cost Housing" and selected individual housing projects on the health of its occupants. The paper also identifies remedies and preventive measures that could be taken by the government and the citizenry. The paper is divided as follow: First part is an "Introduction" that gives a background information on the topic ,the statement of objectives, the statement of problems, the scope of the study and its benefits. This is followed by a comprehensive literature review; analyses and evaluation of data. The final part is a conclusion where recommendation is given to both government and individuals engaged in residential construction.