There is need to address Nigeria's building collapse crisis

A disturbing and continued rise of building collapse has been witnessed in Nigeria’s construction practices, particularly over the last 30 years, with a distressing peak observed in Lagos State.

This region alone has documented hundreds of building collapses between 2000 and 2021, with the majority of the collapses being residential buildings, constituting over 70% of the incidents.

Chukwuma Okafor agrees that such statistics highlight the acute need for reinforced construction regulations and improved oversight mechanisms. Mr. Okafor graduated with first-class honors in Civil Engineering and has distinguished himself as an exceptional researcher with numerous publications in academic journals and conferences. In his practice, he has designed and supervised the construction of various residential, commercial and public building structures.

Mr. Okafor emphasizes the need for a systemic transformation to enhance public safety and confidence in urban development. He advocates for “an integrated approach that involves stricter enforcement of building codes, professional accountability, and the deployment of modern technologies for monitoring and compliance.” He stresses that the widespread non-compliance to building standards and the use of substandard materials are key drivers behind these catastrophes.

Moreover, human error and the evasion of established building procedures have been identified as significant contributors to these failures. Instances such as the tragic collapse of a 21-story building in Ikoyi, Lagos, in November 2021, which resulted in at least 45 fatalities, underscore the dire consequences of such oversights. In this particular case, the building exceeded the approved number of stories, highlighting lapses in enforcement and monitoring.

To address these issues, there is a critical call for transparency in the building approval and construction process. The authorities are urged to enforce existing regulations more rigorously and to update their policies to keep pace with contemporary building practices. This includes resourcing regulatory bodies adequately and equipping them with advanced technologies to ensure real-time monitoring of construction sites.

Having conducted a comprehensive review of the current trends in most recent cases of building collapses seen across the nation, Mr. Okafor states that many of the catastrophic failures can be traced back to malpractices by the various stakeholders during construction, and sometimes, the misuse of existing structures for purposes not originally intended.

To quote Mr. Okafor “many builders and contractors cut corners to maximize profits which inevitably reduces the quality of the buildings”. According to him, the government must take decisive actions to revamp its urban planning and development laws to prevent future disasters. Implementing stringent measures and embracing technological advancements will not only safeguard lives but also enhance the overall quality of urban infrastructure, contributing to sustainable development and economic stability in the region.