WHY BUILDINGS CONTINUE TO CAVE IN…

Nigeria is grappling with a persistent crisis of building collapses, with two tragic incidents in Rivers and Lagos States within a single 24-hour period claiming at least nine lives and injuring dozens more. The collapses, one of a five-storey building under construction in Port Harcourt and another of a three-storey structure in Lagos, underscore a critical failure in the nation's construction sector.

These recent tragedies are not isolated events. Industry statistics reveal a grim reality: between 60 and 75 major construction-related accidents occur annually across Nigeria, with Lagos State bearing the brunt, accounting for half of these incidents. Experts and industry professionals consistently point to weak regulatory oversight and widespread non-compliance with approved building standards as the root causes.

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Most building collapses are not sudden incidents. They are known risks. The failure is not in detecting the problems but in enforcing the laws that should prevent them.

"Most building collapses are not sudden incidents. They are known risks. The failure is not in detecting the problems but in enforcing the laws that should prevent them," stated Bolarinwa Dejonwo, a chartered quantity surveyor and construction contracts administrator. This sentiment highlights a systemic issue where regulations exist but are poorly enforced, leading to preventable disasters.

The consequences of this laxity are severe, affecting various types of structures including offices, schools, residential buildings, churches, and business premises. The Nigerian Society of Structural Engineers emphasizes that building construction should be managed by qualified professionals. However, the industry is plagued by unethical practices, such as the use of cheap, inferior materials and a lack of professionalism, contributing to the high rate of structural failures. Authorities are urged to address this "menace" and the "needless" spilling of blood in the building industry.

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Buildings are designed for specific purposes. Once you change the use without proper structural assessment and regulatory approval, you expose occupants to serious danger.