According to Abubakar, at least 22 incidences of building collapse have been documented in Nigeria between January 14 and July 14. Lagos accounted for 27.27 percent of these cases, followed by Abuja and Anambra at 18.18 percent apiece.
According to the regulatory authority that oversees the practice of engineering in Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), there were 22 building collapses in Nigeria between January and July 2024.
Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, the President of COREN, announced this during a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
“The Incessant Spate of Building Collapse in Nigeria in Recent Times: A Call for Sustainable Collaboration by All Stakeholders” is the theme of the news conference.
According to Abubakar, at least 22 incidences of building collapse have been documented in Nigeria between January 14 and July 14. Lagos accounted for 27.27 percent of these cases, followed by Abuja and Anambra at 18.18 percent apiece.
He added that Ekiti and Plateau followed with 9.09 per cent each, and Kano, Taraba, and Niger states accounted for 4.55 per cent each.
“Records also showed that Lagos takes the lead in the incidence of building collapses.
“As a matter of fact, over 91 buildings have collapsed, resulting in the deaths of over 354 persons in Lagos from 2012 to date.
“Similarly, in Abuja, about 30 buildings have collapsed from 1993 until date, resulting in the deaths of more than 64 persons and injury of many.
“The most recent occurrences of building collapses close to DMGS Onitsha, Anambra State, on June 12 and that of a school (Saint Academy) in Plateau on July 13, where 22 students died and 134 were injured, as well as the building collapse in Kubwa, Abuja.
He said that the incidents were worrisome.
According to him, this calls for deep reflection and collaboration among all stakeholders in stemming the tide.
’’While we commiserate with all victims and families, we want to commend the efforts of all emergency and security services for their prompt response at the time.’’
According to Abubabkar, the leading causes of building collapse vary from one location to the other.
He said some buildings collapsed as a result of ageing, and from some investigations and research conducted over time, use of substandard construction materials and structural failure were also responsible.
He said that other factors included the illegal change of use of buildings, illegal addition of floors, quackery, and inadequate or lack of supervision and oversight.
He added that other factors were faulty foundations, a lack of soil or geotechnical investigation, and sharp and corrupt practices, among others.
Abubakar also commended the respective affected state governments for constituting a panel of enquiry to look into the various cases with a view to finding out the immediate and remote causes and preventing future occurrences.
“This is not the time for apportioning blame or contest of superiority within the built environment, but a time for all stakeholders to unite and proffer workable and lasting solution, particularly in the prevention of building collapses.
“All professionals within the built environment have a role to play in this.
“In this regard, we have identified and categorised many stakeholders that we will be engaging shortly,’’ he said.
The President said that the proliferation of illegal miners even within residential areas, as reported in some quarters, was a danger to the structural stability of buildings.
He added that the council had therefore, urged affected states to take urgent steps to reverse the trend, adding that it was also time to enforce the compulsory insurance of some buildings under construction.
Abubakar said that, perturbed by the incessant and avoidable incidences of building collapses in Nigeria and loss of lives in recent times, COREN had deemed it necessary to make major moves.
He said that COREN had taken some steps to monitor and prevent building collapses by training and licensing Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) inspectors.
Abubakar added that COREN had reconstituted its Council Committee on Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) and added an additional role of enforcement to its responsibility in line with the amended COREN Act.
He said that COREN had constituted the ERM&E Task Force at regional levels, including Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, FCT, Gombe, and Lagos, among other steps to tackle building collapse. (NAN)