Alarming Report: Nigeria Suffers 135 Building Collapses, 26 Lives Lost

Alarming Report: Nigeria Suffers 135 Building Collapses, 26 Lives Lost

Nigeria experienced 135 building collapse incidents and at least 26 deaths between 2022 and 2024, with the most recent incident occurring in Kubwa, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, according to a report by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG)……. CONTINUE READING

BCPG is a professional organization in Nigeria dedicated to preventing building collapses and promoting safe and sustainable building practices. It comprises experts in building construction, architecture, engineering, and related professions.

This surge in building collapse incidents has raised concerns about the safety and integrity of structures across the country.

BCPG noted that Nigeria’s first recorded building collapse occurred in October 1974 in Oyo State, resulting in 27 deaths. Since then, numerous incidents have followed, including the collapse of the tallest building in Lagos on November 1, 2021, which killed 52 people.

In 2022, 62 building collapse cases were reported nationwide, with Lagos accounting for 20 incidents. In 2023, 52 collapses were recorded, with Lagos again leading with 17 incidents.

A significant collapse occurred on May 30, 2024, on Lagos Island, when a four-story structure crumbled, trapping an unknown number of individuals.

As of 2024, there have been 17 recorded building collapse cases, with Lagos reporting five, Anambra three, and Kano, Niger, and Plateau one each.

Investigations by BCPG revealed that professional ineptitude, including excessive loading, use of substandard materials, faulty design, poor workmanship, and weak foundations, significantly contributed to the collapses.