In the early hours of Sunday, September 4, 2022, a seven storey building collapsed in Oba Idowu Oniru Street, near Palace Road in Oniru, Lagos State. This incidence again is raising fresh concerns over recurring cases of collapsed buildings in the country. Two lives has so far been confirmed lost.
The collapse of the building, which was under construction, is coming barely a year after some after the collapse of a 21-storey building in Ikoyi, Lagos, which reportedly claimed over 40 lives and a five storey building in Oba, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The Ikoyi incident was quickly followed the next day by the collapse of a two-storey building in Lekki, Lagos State
Although building collapse occurs in virtually all parts of the country, Lagos State has recorded more of such cases. Available statistics reveal that over 461 buildings collapsed in the country and over 1,000 people killed from 1974 to 2021. According to reports, Lagos State led others in cases of building collapse and accounted for 50 reported cases of the incidents between 2013 and 2019. It has also been reported that out of 84 building collapse that occurred in the country between 2011 and 2019, only 21 occurred outside Lagos State
The frequent collapse of buildings in may be due to so many factors, including non-adherence to approved building plans, building codes and use of sub-standard building materials as well as the use of quacks or non-professionals in building houses. There is no doubt that inadequate supervision of buildings by regulatory agencies also increase the incessant collapse of buildings in recent times
To address the problem, State governments must map out workable measures to ensure that relevant regulatory agencies in the building sector are alive to their responsibilities. In particular, the officials of state government building control agencies physical planning boards and materials testing laboratories must diligently perform their dutie
Also, the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and Nigeria Society of Engineers must ensure that qualified professionals are engaged in any building project. In the same vein, the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) should make sure that quality materials are used in the building sector
It is pertinent to condemn the frequent collapse of buildings in the country and the attendant loss of lives and investments. Government and relevant building agencies should work concertedly to check the menace. State governments must muster the political will to prosecute the developers of all collapsed buildings and other people involved in the approval of the building plans. This is the time the government must bare its fangs and deal with those responsible for recurring building collapse in the state. For instance, the Anambra State Government has declared intention to prosecute government officials and civil servants who engage in flagrant approval of sale of government lands. This strategy should also be extended to building approval and monitoring. Someone must be held accountable.
It has become imperative that all officials of the state government, especially those in the building regulatory agencies, found complicit in the matter, must be prosecuted and adequately punished. It is by punishing all those responsible for frequent building collapse that government can prevent such incidents in future
Written by ANTHONY EZE
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