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Between 2022 and 2024, Nigeria saw 135 building collapse incidents, resulting in at least 26 deaths.
The most recent incident took place in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja, according to a report by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).
This organization, comprised of building construction, architecture, and engineering experts, is dedicated to preventing building collapses and promoting safe construction practices nationwide.
The rise in building collapse incidents has sparked worries about the safety and structural integrity of buildings throughout the country.
BCPG reported that the first building collapse in Nigeria occurred in 1974, resulting in 27 deaths.
Since then, there have been numerous incidents, including the collapse of the tallest building in Lagos on November 1, 2021, which claimed the lives of 52 people.
In 2022, a record 62 building collapse cases were reported across Nigeria, with Lagos accounting for 20 incidents.
The following year, 2023, saw 52 recorded collapses, with Lagos leading again with 17 incidents. On May 30, 2024, a four-story building collapsed on Lagos Island, trapping an unknown number of individuals.
As of 2024, there have been 17 recorded building collapse cases, with five in Lagos, three in Anambra, and one each in Kano, Niger, and Plateau.
Investigations by BCPG revealed that professional negligence, including excessive loading, use of substandard materials, faulty design, poor workmanship, and weak foundations, contributed significantly to the collapses.
The recurring incidents of building collapses in Nigeria have raised concerns about the necessity for stricter enforcement of building regulations.
