Nigeria's buildings are death traps due to quackery, poor oversight

Building collapses are an alarmingly frequent occurrence across Nigeria, with experts pointing to a dangerous combination of unqualified practitioners, poor regulatory enforcement, and the use of substandard materials as the primary culprits. These factors are transforming housing into a deadly gamble for many Nigerians.

Recent data from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) underscores the severity of the issue, particularly in Lagos State. A 2022 report by Jide & Co Onasali identified building collapse as a significant impediment to Nigeria's sustainable development, estimating property losses of $3.2 trillion over the past two decades. This grim statistic highlights the immense economic and human cost of inadequate construction practices.

In 2024 alone, the BCPG documented 47 building collapse incidents across 14 states. Lagos State led with 13 incidents, representing 55.15 percent of the total recorded cases. Abuja followed with six incidents, while Anambra reported five. Other states like Kano and Rivers recorded four collapses each. The report also noted that states such as Taraba, Bayelsa, Gombe, and Yobe experienced their first recorded building collapses in 2022, indicating a widening geographical spread of the problem.

The first recorded building collapse in Nigeria, according to the BCPG, occurred in October 1971 in Oyo State, resulting in 27 fatalities due to excessive loading. Despite repeated government promises of reform, the frequency of these disasters continues to rise. Recent incidents, such as the collapse of a four-storey building in Ogba, Lagos, and a student hostel in Anambra State, serve as tragic reminders of the ongoing crisis.

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I was just working when it happened. It was like a film because it caught us by surprise. But everybody was able to leave the building before it happened.