Nigeria – Up to 22 buildings have reportedly collapsed this year
Lagos, Nigeria – July 18, 2024
When a school building collapsed in the northern part of the country, it was clearer that the country must step up discussions about what happened or what is happening.
Before the building collapsed in Jos, where scores of school children were killed, buildings had been collapsing across the country, but there was silence within the government, with leaders keeping mum.
Nobody wanted to raise the alarm, while the wait for who speaks first continued until recently. What can not be hidden is the fact there is a problem. The news of tragedies across the country via building collapses is becoming worrisome.
Nigeria is grappling with a severe infrastructure crisis as the country has recorded 22 building collapses resulting in 33 fatalities in just the first seven months of 2024.
In these seven months, no commission of enquiry has successfully indicated what is behind the building disasters being reported across the country.
In Porthacourt, what appeared to be an oversight committee was announced, but it turned out to be a normal reaction from the office of the state’s urban development and planning.
They sealed the collapsed building, demanded the presence of the engineer, and the building plan. The matter is bound to be swept under the carpet.
This alarming trend has sparked widespread concern among citizens and authorities, prompting urgent calls for stricter enforcement of town planning regulations.
“Another building collapsed. For a couple of weeks now, I read about building collapse. We see only the ones reported on newspapers. There are buildings collapsing every day where media failed to reach, ” a citizen said to Dailytab24 during public press inquiry.
In the country, engineers and site owners always hide building collapses to avoid facing scrutiny or legal action.
“No engineer wants to see his name on newspaper or public domain that a house he built or building collapsed. If such thing happens, the engineer will starve because no one will hire him. ” One engineer responded when asked why engineers were not seen in the court.
The engineers often do everything to avoid appearing because their brand will be affected badly. They prefer to sort out themselves and to be able to find the next house to build.
“One engineer we spoke with said he cannot comment on the matter from our perspective. He said an engineer should not be the point man who takes all the blame. He suggested that building collapse can happen at any given time. He also defended engineers by saying site owners choose what they want, even often when the engineer is opposed to it. If you didn’t agree, the site owner gets another engineer, ” our reporter said.
In most situations, collapsed buildings are the ones renovated or under renovation. Site owners tend to add more floors without reinforcing the foundation. This move overwhelms the foundation and causes collapse.
Speaking about the inferior materials in the market, the engineer this newspaper spoke with blamed the government.
“They allow importers to import inferior materials. They allow them to produce low quality materials. When engineers make a budget, site owners prefer the lower quality. Hence, it can serve. The blame should be complete, not always focusing on us, ” he argued.
The most recent incident in Mushin, Lagos, where a two-storey building collapsed, has drawn attention to the critical state of Nigeria’s urban infrastructure. The tragedy resulted in significant casualties and highlighted the dire need for reform in building practices and regulatory oversight.
The enforcement of building regulations is where the challenge lies. Urban infrastructureal developments are not spearheaded by the government but individual choices.
In response to these recurring disasters, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasize the necessity for enforcing town planning laws more rigorously. Addressing the Plateau State Governor, Akpabio underscored the importance of adhering to construction standards and ensuring that existing regulations are not only updated but also strictly implemented.
Political leaders can only talk without putting in place a means to practice what they preached. Building collapse is a regular trend in the country, and nothing has been done over the years.
Akpabio coming out now to speak is to fulfil all righteousness due to there being an international outcry over the deaths of children as a result of the collapsed Jos school.
Experts attribute the frequency of these collapses to a combination of factors, including the use of substandard materials, non-compliance with building codes, and corruption within regulatory bodies. The lack of accountability and the prevalence of cutting corners to reduce costs have only exacerbated the problem.
The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has been vocal about the urgent need for a comprehensive review and enforcement of building regulations. COREN President Rabiu Ali has urged the government to implement more stringent measures to prevent further tragedies, including regular inspections and sanctions against non-compliant builders.
Public outcry over the recurrent collapses has also put pressure on local and state governments to take immediate action. Communities affected by these disasters are demanding justice and adequate compensation, as well as proactive measures to safeguard lives and properties in the future.
The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has called for enhanced collaboration between professional bodies, government agencies, and construction firms to ensure that all building projects meet safety standards. The NIOB also advocates for continuous professional development for builders to keep them abreast of the latest construction technologies and practices.
“The body of building engineers in the country must go beyond making public statements if they care about safety or putting an end to the trend.
They must be mobilised to have official association because the number of quack engineers is more than professional engineers in the country.
The standard of building materials from block to rod must be reviewed, and strict punishment clearly stipulated for those responsible for building collapses as a result of negligence” a Dailytab24 contributor said.
As Nigeria continues to develop rapidly, the need for resilient and safe infrastructure has never been more critical. The recent spate of building collapses serves as a stark reminder of the urgent reforms needed to protect lives and ensure sustainable urban development. Without immediate and decisive action, the country risks further tragedies and a growing public trust deficit in its infrastructure governance.
