The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria has attributed the rise in building collapses across the country to the government’s inadequate enforcement of building regulations.
Dr. Samson Opaluwah, the council’s chairman, highlighted this issue in response to recent tragic incidents, including a school building collapse in Kubwa, Abuja, and another in Jos. The school collapse resulted in 22 deaths and left 132 people injured.
“These avoidable tragedies persist in urban centers where professionalism should be paramount. The government’s failure to enforce its laws is the main challenge. We must hold accountable those who have been negligent,” Dr. Opaluwah stated.
He emphasized the necessity for stringent penalties for those responsible, aiming to prevent future disasters.
This statement follows the rescue of four individuals from a collapsed two-story residential building in Kubwa, Abuja, on Saturday.
Statistics reveal that Nigeria has experienced at least 135 building collapses and 26 fatalities between 2022 and 2024, underscoring the urgent need for improved regulatory enforcement.
