Building collapse: Concerns as Lagos records 14 fatalities in 6 months

There is mounting concern over the rising cases of building collapse in the country especially in Lagos state. Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve city and centre of excellence have overtime experienced building collapses, a situation that has ignited concerns among stakeholders. These collapse incidence have led to lost of lives, rendered many displaced while others suffer […]

There is mounting concern over the rising cases of building collapse in the country especially in Lagos state.

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve city and centre of excellence have overtime experienced building collapses, a situation that has ignited concerns among stakeholders.

These collapse incidence have led to lost of lives, rendered many displaced while others suffer life time injuries.

Checks by Daily Trust show that in the first half of 2025, at least six incidents were recorded in the Lagos state, which led to the lost of 14 lives and many injured.

 

Timeline

Daily Trust checks show that the first building collapse was in the early hours of January 29, when a two-storey building under construction collapsed in the Ikota, Lekki area of Lagos, killing an adult and a boy.

Subsequently, coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Lagos, Ibrahim Farinloye said five persons with serious injuries were rescued and taken to the hospital.

Subsequently, On March 5, two persons were killed and six seriously injured after a three-storey building collapsed in the Odoriwu estate at the Elf Bus stop area of Lagos.

Similarly, a three-storey building housing a bar and restaurant in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos collapsed on April 19 where cook at cook at the restaurant was rescued.

One person was initially confirmed dead, while nine were rescued alive. But on the third day of search and rescue operations, LASEMA confirmed that a total of 20 individuals had been accounted for, with the death toll increasing to seven.

In the same vein, a storey building under construction collapsed on May 18 at Ishaga Road, opposite Idi Araba Central Mosque, Mushin, Lagos.

While no casualties were recorded in the incident, three adult males were said to have been rescued alive from the debris sustained injuries.

In the same month of May, three people died on May 27 after an uncompleted two-story building collapsed, trapping 14 occupants along Obafemi Awolowo Road, Ota-Ona, in Ikorodu LGA of the state.

One person was initially declared dead shortly after the incident, but two days later, LASEMA said two more bodies were recovered from the rubble.

Similarly on June 16th, an uncompleted two-storey building  caved in at Craig Street in the Shomolu area of Lagos.

Although no casualties were recorded. However, pillars from the collapsed structure fell and damaged parts of a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) branch nearby.

 

Lagos leads in Nigeria’s building collapse incidents

Daily Trust reports that The Building Collapse Prevention Guild, in a 2024 report, said Nigeria recorded 614 building collapse incidents between October 1974 and July 2024.

According to the report, Lagos accounted for 56.68 percent of the incidents, with 348 collapses.

Anambra and Abuja followed with 26 and 25 incidents, respectively.

Also in June, the BCPG reported an increase in the number of incidents, rising to 653, with 1,616 deaths recorded.

The house of representatives asked the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to eliminate substandard building materials from Nigerian markets in June.

 

Experts react

Speaking on the issue, the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) said. Bldr. Sir. Alderton Ewa Ewa stated that many states of the country still have not domesticated building codes as part of efforts to curb collapse in the country

The NIOB president stated that although some states in Nigeria have already domesticated building regulatory laws and are actively enforcing them, others are still in the process while others have not even started.

“Our advocacy is for nationwide adoption and consistent implementation to ensure public safety and professional accountability across the federation,” he added

“In Nigeria today, the safety and durability of our buildings depend not only on the existence of regulatory laws but on their effective enforcement. Builders, as one of the seven statutorily recognized professionals in the built environment, play a central role in ensuring that every stage of construction complies with approved designs, quality standards, and legal requirements.

“Unfortunately, incidents of building collapse and substandard construction remain a major concern, often due to weak enforcement or lack of professional oversight. This conference aims to bridge that gap through capacity building, policy engagement, and professional collaboration,” he added.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network, Barr. Festus Adebayo lamented the rising building collapse in the country, adding that it was becoming worrisome and disheartening.

He said data showed that 49 fatalities emanated from building collapse in Abuja were reported between 2008 and 2018, while breakdown showed that 78.4 percent of the collapsed buildings in Lagos alone between 2001 to 2021, displacing over 6,000 households were residential, 12.8 percent were commercial, and the remaining 8.8 percent were institutional buildings.

He however called for comprehensive insurance cover for buildings in the country.

“Risk associated with construction projects are numerous and substantial. Section 65 of the Insurance Act 2003 stipulates that all public buildings shall be adequately insured ostensibly to cushion the impact and reduce the burden and liabilities on property owners/government.

“In developed countries like the United States of America, your home, your personal belongings, and your business are meaningful and valuable assets.

“If a disaster strikes, having insurance for your home or business property is the best way to ensure you will have the necessary financial resources to help you repair or replace whatever is damaged or lost,” he explained.

 

Building code advisory committee underway – FG

Meanwhile, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has announced plans to inaugurate the National Building Code Advisory Committee following the recent launch of a Ministerial Task Team to probe causes of building failures in Nigeria.

He revealed this in a keynote address delivered at a recent Workshop on the National Building Safety and Structural Integrity Initiative in Lagos recently

The Minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore, said the move follows the recent launch of a Ministerial Task Team to probe the causes of building failures in Nigeria.

The workshop organised by Lagos State, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, was a national campaign aimed at halting the growing wave of building collapses across the country.

The Minister said, “Every building collapse is not just about the lives lost but also about the broken trust between government, professionals, and citizens. Plans to inaugurate the National Building Code Advisory Committee following the recent launch of a Ministerial Task Team to probe causes of building failures are in place.”

Dangiwa decried poor design, substandard materials, and weak enforcement of building codes as root causes of building collapse in the country.

He outlined the National Building Safety and Structural Integrity Initiative to include a nationwide audit of structures, a uniform inspection and certification system, strict code enforcement, and the use of e-GIS mapping with real-time inspection reporting.