By Oluseye Ojo
In the early hours of Friday July 12, 2024, the premises of Saint Academy in Jos, the capital of Plateau State buzzed with scores of energetic students, rushing to attend morning assembly and classes.
In no distant time, the students settled down for lessons in their various classes in the two-storey structure while the staff moved around, carrying out their duties. But little did they know that death was lurking around the corner. Then it happened suddenly. The deafening roar of crumbling steel, iron rod, furniture, and concrete pierced the air, shattering the serenity of the school. In a flurry of dust and debris, the structure crumbled like a house of cards, killing 22 persons, including students.
The case of Saint Academy in Jos is one of the many buildings that have collapsed in Nigeria causing indescribable losses of human lives and property, as well as disruption to social lives of affected families.
Nigeria has been grappling with frequent cases of building collapse in recent years, which has resulted in devastating consequences. The situation calls to question the integrity of the professionals, artisans, and other stakeholders in the building industry.
Within the first seven months of 2024, the country has experienced at least 23 cases of building collapse, resulting in the death of 38 persons, and another 93 with various degrees of injuries.
Available records show that Lagos recorded close to 30 per cent of the incidents. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and Anambra accounted for 18.18 per cent each. Two states – Ekiti and Plateau also had 9.08 per cent each, while three states – Kano, Taraba, and Niger recorded 4.55 per cent each.
Recounting some of the sad memories, Sadiq Abubakar, President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), said: “Over 91 buildings have collapsed in Lagos from 2012 to date, resulting in the death of over 354 persons. Similarly, in Abuja, about 30 buildings have collapsed from 1993 to date, causing more than 64 deaths and many injuries.”
Notable incidents of building collapse in Nigeria within the past few years include churches, mosques, schools, private homes, and high rise buildings.
Mosque collapse at Papa Ajao, Mushin (2024)
On May 26, 2024, a mosque collapsed at Yusuf Street, Papa Ajao in the Mushin area of Lagos, while prayer was ongoing. Three worshippers, including a 12-year-old boy, lost their lives to the incident.
Four-storey building at Iga Idungaran (2024)
On May 30, 2024, at least 10 persons escaped death as a four-storey building collapsed at 15, Iga Idungaran Street, Lagos Island in Lagos State. The survivors included a 17-year-old girl. The residential building, as gathered, was undergoing renovation when it came down. The structure had been marked by Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), for evacuation before it collapsed.
Dennis Memorial Grammar School building in Onitsha (2024)
A five-storey building under construction at Dennis Memorial Grammar School in Onitsha, Anambra State collapsed. The building which was being constructed by the Anglican School old students association was said to have reached an advanced stage before it collapsed on June 12, 2024. No casualty was recorded.
Jos school building collapse (July 2024)
On July 12, 2024, at least 22 persons, including students, died when a two storey-building collapsed at Saint Academy, Busa-Buji community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) attributed the cause of the collapse to substandard materials and poor construction work.
Collapse of three terraces under construction in Lagos (2024)
On July 25, 2024, a set of three terraces under construction collapsed at No 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate in Maryland, Lagos. Five persons reportedly lost their lives to the incident, while some were rescued alive.
Two-storey building in Aluu (2023)
On February 4, 2023, a two-storey building under construction in Aluu community in Rivers State collapsed and killed three site workers.
Seven-storey building at Banana Island (2023)
On April 12, 2023, a seven-storey building crumbled at First Avenue, Banana Island in Ikoyi, Lagos. Structural defect was identified as the cause of the collapse.
Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Makurdi (2023)
On October 3, 2023, a branch of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, at Mission Ward, North Bank, Makurdi, Benue State, collapsed, killing three pastors.
Four-storey building collapsed in Uyo (2022)
On September 17, 2022, a four-storey building collapsed in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, while contractors were on the fourth floor. Four persons were rescued from the rubble of the building that was supposed to be a six-storey edifice.
21-storey Ikoyi building collapse (2021)
On November 1, 2021, a 21-storey building on No. 44, Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, collapsed, killing many people. A coroner’s inquest into the incident revealed that the building collapsed due to negligence by agencies responsible for approval and supervision of the building project. The structural failure of the building was reportedly caused by design errors.
Ita-Faji School building collapse (2019)
In central Lagos Island, a four-story building housing a school collapsed on March 13, 2019, resulting in the tragic deaths of 20 individuals, most of whom were pupils. Substandard construction and the addition of additional floors without proper authorization were identified as the primary causes.
Lekki Gardens building collapse (2016)
Located in Lagos, Lekki Gardens estate witnessed a catastrophic building collapse, leading to the deaths of 34 individuals. Further investigations revealed that poor construction practices and the use of substandard materials were significant contributors to the accident.
Synagogue Church of All Nations building collapse (2014)
One of the most prominent building collapses in Nigeria occurred at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos on September 12, 2014. The guesthouse attached to the church, owned by Prophet T.B. Joshua, collapsed, and reportedly led to the deaths of 116 people, including South Africans, Nigerians, and citizens of other countries. Investigation pointed to structural failures as the cause of the collapse.
Casualties and human toll
Over the years, an alarming number of lives have been lost due to incidents of building collapse. Families have been torn apart, leaving behind a trail of untold sorrow and hardship. The emotional scars inflicted on survivors and communities cannot be overstated.
The Building Collapse Prevention Guild had reported in 2023 that Nigeria recorded a total of 553 building collapses from 1974 to April 13, 2023, with Lagos accounting for over 326 buildings that caved in within 49 years, which represented 59.05 per cent of the recorded cases within the period.
The report read in part: “Taraba, Bayelsa, Gombe, and Yobe states had their first recorded collapse in 2022, and Zamfara has only one recorded building collapse, which happened in 2018. Also, 1971, 1975, and 1981 were years that had no recorded collapses.”
The report also indicated that 2022 so far, had the highest number of building collapses with 62 incidents across the country with Lagos accounting for 20. In addition, 2023 recorded 12 collapses so far.”
Another report stated that more than 461 buildings collapsed in Nigeria between 1974 and July 2021, which led to the death of over 1, 090 people and scores also injured.
In the report, Lagos recorded 295 cases, Abuja 16, Oyo 16, Anambra 15, Ondo 10, Kano nine, Abia nine, Kwara eight, Rivers eight, Delta eight, Enugu seven, Ogun seven, Plateau six, Kaduna six, Edo six, Imo five, Osun five, Benue three, Adamawa
Causes of building collapse
Some of the causes of incessant building collapses in the country have been attributed to lack of regulatory oversight, poor building practices and non-adherence to codes, as well as rapid urbanisation and land scarcity.
As gathered, corruption within the construction industry has fostered a culture of impunity, allowing substandard materials, faulty designs, and inadequate construction practices to thrive.
Regulatory bodies and officials entrusted with overseeing construction projects have also been accused of being susceptible to bribery and manipulation, leading to the approvals of unsafe structures. It was further gathered that in a bid to cut cost, unqualified workers are often employed, leading to compromise of structural integrity of buildings. Experts further revealed that Nigeria is experiencing rapid population growth and urbanisation, resulting in increased pressure on available land. As a consequence, buildings are constructed hastily with little consideration for quality standards or proper planning, significantly increasing the risk of collapse.
Prof. Bolaji Wahab of the Department of Building, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and the immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Oyo State chapter, explained the causes of building collapse, joint efforts of stakeholders, and what should be done to prevent the menace.
According to him, it is imperative for Nigerian authorities to prioritise the rigorous implementation and enforcement of building codes and regulations. Stringent penalties, he said, must be imposed on those who violate construction standards, while transparent processes should govern the approval of building plans.
Wahab, while stressing the importance of capacity building, advised that the government should invest in skill development programmes to enhance the capabilities of construction workers. He suggested that certification systems should also be implemented to ensure that only qualified professionals are involved in building projects.
“Talking from a professional’s point of view, we as builders and other professionals in the industry, like architects and engineers that are saddled with the responsibilities of providing buildings for the use of mankind, are always committed to our professionalism, so as to ensure that the buildings are constructed to be conducive for habitation by human beings or for human beings to come there and do one activity or the other.
“In this regard, there is a need for quality assurance, which will make the building to be constructed to meet basic requirements functionally, aesthetically, structurally, and for the comfort drive of the occupants.
“When there is a case of building collapse, it symbolises that there is a problem in the industry. There is a type of sharp practice that could have taken place or carried out at different stages that a building structure can really have. So, when such occurred, it means there is a problem that must be identified.
“For us to substantiate the cause of building collapse, the various stages of the building project must be thoroughly looked into. Some people usually engage people who don’t have the technical know-how of building to work on their projects. This is a disservice to them and the country.
“I must quickly say that there are stages where professionals must come in building projects. Any sharp practice at any stage of the project can lead to the collapse of a building.
“The features that stages of building should really have are planning, design, construction, commissioning, and use of the building.”
Wahab explained further that at the planning stage, the person that conceived the idea of having a building project has to secure land legally for the project. He added that at this stage, the topography of the land, surveying and soil testing are parts of the essentials that must be done, saying surveyors and planning experts like urban planners and so on should be involved.
“Then, we also have planning experts, like urban planners that many people call town planners, who are in charge of delineation of settlements or the proposed areas for development into different zoning criteria, may be low density, high density and so on.”
The second stage, according to the don, involves the design of the building, where experts, such as architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, quantity surveyors should be involved.
He lamented that quackery has become a major source of concern in the building industry. He added that it has become alarming that “building has become an all-comers affair. You will see anybody who did not study anything related to construction and did not have any legal certification in that line, getting contracts on building projects.” He noted that such practices could lead to a compromise that could cause building collapse.
He asserted that there is an inadequate number of government officials to carry out assessment and monitor construction sites to ensure that projects adhere to basic requirements in line with the National Building Code. To address the menace of building collapse, he made a case for all states in the country to domesticate National Building Code.
“The establishment of a building control agency must be an issue that will go round the country. The agency must employ enough staff, who will be deployed to different zones of each state in order to have enough coverage.”
Way forward
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, said, during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat to the ministry, that more than 3.6 million, representing over 75 percent of Nigeria’s 22 million housing units are substandard, according to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey.
To address the housing challenge in Nigeria, the minister said, “We must involve a combination of building new houses and upgrading slums to ensure that these houses meet the necessary standards. The housing sector in Nigeria faces issues of low purchasing power among households, high construction costs, and inadequate housing supply to keep up with population growth.”
The stakeholders in the construction industry have also called on the government to enhance the enforcement of building regulations, especially in housing development across the country.
A former President of the Nigerian Institute of Builders, Kunle Awobodu, also articulated his view on the incessant cases of building collapse in Lagos, blaming the ugly development on weak regulations.
“There is a difference between policy formulation and implementation. One of the things we discovered was that the staff strength of the building control agency was low compared to the vastness of the Lagos built environment.
“Quackery is also a major problem. To forestall the frequency of collapsed buildings, developers must submit their approval plan to undergo an approval process, including checking the structural design to identify anomalies.
“Once the approved building plans are returned to their owners, the system does not follow up to check and ensure that those who will handle the construction are professionals. So, the construction will just be given to anybody who claims to have experience in building construction.”
General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, in his comment on the rising cases of building collapse in Lagos, also cautioned developers and property owners against illegal constructions and conversions of buildings.