From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Concerned about the alarming frequency of building collapses across the country, the federal government has taken a bold step to tackle the menace.
To this end, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, yesterday, inaugurated an expanded Ministerial Task Team on Building Collapse in Nigeria.
The newly expanded committee includes representatives of key professional bodies and regulatory agencies in the built environment, alongside technical experts from the ministry.
Bodies represented on the task team include the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC), Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON), and Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON). Others are the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) and the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).
Dangiwa decried the spate of building failures, describing them as “unacceptable and a national embarrassment.”
“These avoidable tragedies have led to the painful loss of innocent lives, permanent disability for survivors, destruction of property, and irreparable psychological trauma for families,” he lamented.
Recounting earlier efforts, the minister explained that last year he approved the formation of a committee to investigate the root causes of building collapses and propose practical, sustainable solutions. The committee, led by Architect Maji Liberty Alkali, submitted a report containing 18 key recommendations.
Following that report, Dangiwa directed the expansion of the committee to include all relevant professional and regulatory bodies, emphasising that solving the problem of building collapses requires collaboration across all sectors of the construction industry.
“This is not the responsibility of any one profession,” he stressed. “It is a deeply interconnected challenge that cuts across architecture, engineering, quantity surveying, town planning, land surveying, and beyond.”
Highlighting the importance of a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, Dangiwa said architects must ensure that designs meet safety standards; engineers must guarantee the soundness of structural calculations; quantity surveyors must align costs and materials with specifications; and builders must execute projects with integrity.
The terms of reference for the expanded committee include reviewing the 18 approved recommendations, advising the ministry on phased and effective implementation strategies, and developing a comprehensive roadmap to tackle systemic, technical, legal, and institutional challenges related to building collapses.
Additionally, the committee is tasked with proposing national legislation to enhance the federal government’s oversight of the construction industry. It will also design a compliance checklist and regulatory framework to promote accountability, ensure adherence to professional standards and ethics, and improve building approvals.
Dangiwa reiterated his ministry’s full support for the committee’s mission.
“I have directed the Permanent Secretary to ensure that the necessary resources and coordination mechanisms are put in place to enable you to deliver on your mandate,” he said.
“Once your roadmap and action plan are submitted, I will work closely with relevant arms of government, both at the federal and sub-national levels, to ensure seamless implementation of your recommendations. We will also explore the possibility of integrating key aspects of your work into national housing and urban development policies and regulations.”
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, thanked committee members for accepting the call to serve, acknowledging their expertise and experience as crucial to the success of the committee’s objectives.
Meanwhile, the Committee Chairman, Architect Umaru Usman Karaye (representing ARCON), expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve on such an important task force.
He commended the minister’s commitment to addressing the long-standing challenge of building collapses, also thanking the Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary for their support.
Karaye praised the professional regulatory bodies for nominating members to serve on the committee and underscored the urgency of their work.
“We are excited to collaborate and find a comprehensive solution to the embarrassing incidents of building collapses in the country,” he stated, adding that the committee looked forward to working closely with the ministry to urgently address the issue.