Frequent incidents of building collapse worrisome

The Council for The Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), has revealed that a total of 418 lives have been lost from 1993 to July 2024 due to building collapse.

While admitting that cases of death from building collapse have been under reported, COREN President Engr. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, said in the last 7 months, 22 cases of building collapses has been reported.

Engr. Abubakar described the incident as worrisome saying that “From January to 14th July 2024 alone, at least twenty-two (22) cases of building collapse have been reported in Nigeria with Lagos accounting for 27.27%, Abuja and Anambra 18.18% each, Ekiti and Plateau 9.09% each, Kano, Taraba and Niger states accounting for 4.55%.

“Records have shown that Lagos takes the lead in the incidences of building collapse, as a matter of fact, over 91 buildings have collapsed resulting in the death of over 354 persons in Lagos from 2012 to date.

“Similarly in Abuja, about 30 buildings have collapsed from 1993 till date resulting in the death of more than 64 persons and injury of many.

“The most recent occurrences of building collapse to DMGS Onitsha, Anambra State on 12th of June, 2024, a school of (Saint Academy) in Plateau State on Friday, 13th July, 2024 where it was reported that 22 students died and 134 injured as well as the building collapse in Kubwa, Abuja, on Saturday, 14th July, 2024 where five persons were rescued is worrisome and for a deep reflection and collaboration of all stakeholders in stemming the tide’’.

While commiserating with the families of the victims, Abubakar cautioned against apportioning blame, rather, he called for the stakeholders’ engagement to tackle the menace.

He said: “This is not the time for apportioning blame or contest of superiority within the built environment but a time for all stakeholders to unite and proffer workable and lasting solutions, particularly in the prevention of building collapses.

‘All professionals within the built environment have a role to play in this. In this regard, we have identified it, and COREN has taken some steps in monitoring and prevention of the building collapse’’.