By Lydia Chigozie-Ngwakwe
Lagos: Experts in the built environment have blamed weak enforcement of building regulations, professional negligence and poor construction practices for recurring building collapses in Nigeria.
The experts, who expressed their concerns on Monday at a webinar, stressed the need for practical reforms.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that webinar had the theme, “Making the National Building Code Enforceable to Enhance Safety in the Nigerian Built Environment”.
They also called on the Federal and State Governments to strengthen enforcement of the National Building Code and ensure that professionals and developers faced consequences for safety violations.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Monday Ubani, noted that the National Building Code, introduced in 2006, needed stronger legal backing to ensure uniform implementation and enforcement across the country.
Ubani said that approval of building plans alone could not guarantee safety, stressing the need for mandatory inspections throughout construction and strict penalties for offenders.
He cited the 2021 Ikoyi 21-storey building collapse, which claimed 45 lives, as a reminder of the consequences of regulatory failure and poor supervision.
Also, The Third Vice-President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Mr David Majekodunmi, advised that building control should be a continuous safety process covering design, construction and occupation.
He proposed a digital building safety passport for every building to capture approved plans, permits, inspection reports, alterations and maintenance records.
The President, Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, Dr Taiwo Elegba, identified poor soil investigations, defective designs, substandard materials and inadequate supervision as major causes of building failure.
He called for compulsory soil tests, regular material testing and proper technical supervision to ensure compliance with approved construction standards.
Another expert, Mr Elias Agbabiaka, urged professionals to place public safety above financial interests and refuse to approve unsafe structures or substandard materials.
Agbabiaka is a Member, Lagos State Regional Investigation Panel, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.
He disclosed that Lagos accounted for 56.6 per cent of the 843 building collapses recorded nationwide between Oct. 1971 and Oct. 2026.
On his part, the Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, Mr James Sonde, called for a National Building Control and Safety Act to give the National Building Code a stronger legal foundation.
He said that developers, contractors, professionals and regulatory officials should be held accountable for their roles in building construction and safety.
The speakers urged governments to strengthen regulatory agencies, improve inspections and ensure that building safety standards were enforced to prevent further loss of lives and property. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
