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Nigeria Reports 135 Building Collapse Incidents, Resulting in 26 Deaths

Written by Jerry Alomatu on July 15, 2024

News Views: 49

Nigeria has witnessed 135 building collapse incidents and at least 26 fatalities between 2022 and 2024, according to a report released by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG). The most recent incident occurred in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The BCPG, composed of experts in building construction, architecture, engineering, and related fields, aims to prevent building collapses and promote safe construction practices nationwide.

The report highlighted that the first recorded building collapse in Nigeria dates back to October 1974 in Oyo State, claiming 27 lives. Since then, several incidents have occurred, including a major collapse in Lagos on November 1, 2021, which resulted in 52 fatalities.

In 2022, the country experienced a record 62 building collapses, with Lagos accounting for 20 incidents. The following year, 2023, saw 52 collapses, with Lagos again leading with 17 incidents.

The guild’s investigations attributed the collapses to professional ineptitude, including factors such as excessive loading, use of substandard materials, faulty design, poor workmanship, and weak foundations.

As of 2024, there have been 17 reported building collapses, with Lagos recording five, Anambra three, and Kano, Niger, and Plateau each reporting one collapse.

The recurrent incidents have prompted calls for stricter enforcement of building codes and regulations to prevent such tragedies and safeguard lives. The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria has urged for sanctions against developers responsible for recent collapses in Abuja, emphasizing the need for rigorous enforcement of laws and regulations to curb further incidents.

Dr. Samson Opaluwah, Chairman of the Council, criticized governmental negligence in law enforcement and advocated for thorough investigations and punitive measures against culpable individuals to deter future occurrences.

“We need to punish those who have been found wanting in the past,” Opaluwah emphasized, stressing the importance of addressing human errors, negligence, and misconduct to ensure building safety across urban centers in Nigeria.