The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) has attributed the increasing incidents of building collapses across the country to government negligence in enforcing construction laws. This surge in structural failures has resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries.
Dr. Samson Opaluwah, Chairman of CORBON, voiced his concerns following the recent collapses of a residential building in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and a school building in Jos. Speaking on the issue, Dr. Opaluwah emphasized the need for stringent legal actions against those responsible for such tragedies to deter future occurrences.
“This collapse, unfortunately, has continued to happen, especially in areas that we can refer to as urban centers. Centers where professionals and professionalism should be extolled to the highest. The challenge we have now is government enforcement of its laws. We need to punish those who have been found wanting in the past,” he stated.
Dr. Opaluwah’s comments came in the wake of a recent incident where four individuals were rescued from a collapsed two-story residential building in Kubwa on Saturday. This was closely followed by a devastating event on Friday, where a school building in Jos collapsed, leading to the deaths of at least 22 people and injuring 132 others.
The issue of building collapses is not new in Nigeria. A report by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild highlights the severity of the problem, noting that from 2022 to 2024, Nigeria recorded at least 135 building collapse incidents resulting in 26 deaths. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for robust enforcement of building regulations and accountability for those who fail to adhere to safety standards.
