Building collapses: COREN, CORBON demand enforcement of National Building Code
By Esther Agbo
The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) have urged the government to enforce building regulations more rigorously, following a series of building collapses in the country.
Nigeria has experienced 136 building collapses and at least 26 deaths between 2022 and 2024.
From January to July 14, 2024, there were at least 22 collapses resulting in over 22 fatalities.
According to the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, the first recorded building collapse in Nigeria occurred in October 1974 in Oyo State, causing 27 deaths. Significant incidents include the collapse of the tallest building in Lagos on November 1, 2021, which claimed 52 lives.
The two bodies highlighted regulatory shortcomings and the failure to prosecute building code violators during recent press briefings in Abuja.
COREN President, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar identified various causes of building collapses, stating, “The leading causes of collapses vary from one location to the other but from investigations and research conducted over time, they include the use of substandard construction materials, structural failure, illegal changes in the use of buildings, poor soil/geotechnical investigations, and sharp and corrupt practices, among others.”
He expressed concern about the increasing number of illegal miners operating in residential areas, which has compromised the stability of buildings.
He stated, “The proliferation of illegal miners even within residential areas, as reported in some quarters, is a danger to the structural stability of buildings.”
Abubakar emphasised Nigeria’s lack of trained professionals to investigate building collapses, resulting in significant loss of life and property.
He mentioned COREN’s initiatives to train forensic investigators in collaboration with the Nigeria Building and Roads Research Institute and the Chartered Institute of Fraud and Forensic Investigators.
“COREN has initiated the development of critical mass engineering infrastructure failures and forensic investigators. Discussions are ongoing with the Nigeria Building and Roads Research Institute and the Chartered Institute of Fraud and Forensic Investigators in this regard.”
Moreover, the Chairman of CORBON, Dr. Samson Opaluwah, stressed the importance of enforcing the National Building Code, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council.
He urged the government to pass laws ensuring compliance with the code and suggested interim Executive Orders to mandate adherence to Sections 2.44 and 2.62 of the 2019 National Building Code.
He said, “CORBON recommends the enactment of laws to enforce the provisions of the National Building Code, which has long been approved by the Federal Executive Council, as a matter of urgency.
“Specifically to stem building collapse, the immediate enforcement of provisions of Sections 2.44 and 2.62 of the National Building Code (2019), which require the submission and usage on site of Builders Construction Methodology, Builders Project Quality Management Plan, and Building Construction Programme prepared by a registered builder, in the construction of building projects.”
Opaluwah also called on state and local governments to adopt the National Building Codes to maintain professionalism in the construction industry.
He recommended that developers require letters of indemnity and current practice licences from CORBON before hiring builders for projects.
