The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Lagos Chapter, has identified structural regulation failures, compromised approvals, and lax oversight as the primary drivers of persistent building collapse incidents nationwide. Tony Aspire Kolawole, the chapter’s chairman, has called on authorities to enforce criminal prosecution against offenders instead of relying solely on the demolition of structurally compromised buildings.
This warning follows two tragic incidents: the collapse of a five-storey building in Rivers State on June 24, 2026, and a three-storey building in the Alakija area of Lagos on June 25, 2026. Kolawole characterized these disasters as avoidable structural failures rooted in institutional flaws rather than unpreventable accidents. He stressed that individuals deliberately bypass standard engineering inspections, manipulate permits, and substitute high-quality building materials with inferior alternatives.
To mitigate future occurrences, REDAN urged the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and similar regulatory agencies across Nigeria to escalate rigorous structural inspections, especially within heavily populated metropolitan neighborhoods. The association maintains that prosecuting developers, engineers, and complicit government officials will establish a meaningful deterrent against the endangerment of human lives.
Additionally, Kolawole advised the Lagos State House of Assembly to update existing urban development legislation to eliminate regulatory loopholes and introduce severe penalties for construction violations. Built environment professionals are urged to maintain strict ethical compliance, while prospective property buyers are encouraged to verify building permits and structural integrity certificates before finalizing transactions.
