Falling walls, failing standards: Nigeria’s 50-year battle with building collapses

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Experts agree that building failures everywhere in the world stem from two key issues: poor maintenance and weak enforcement of standards. Nigeria’s problem is not a lack of technical guidelines but the failure to enforce them.

Site inspections often reveal alarming shortcuts, like the use of substandard materials to the hiring of unqualified labourers masquerading as professionals.

Unlicensed builders frequently use inferior cement, low-grade steel, and weak concrete blocks, all in a bid to save costs.

The pioneer national president of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), who is also the Past National President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Kunle Awobudu, revealed this as the chief method employed by many builders, especially in Lagos.

“When [developers] see that a building is well-located, they will approach the family to [to strike a deal],” Awobudu said.

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