FG Launches Forensic Engineering Programme After 321 Deaths in Building Collapses

The Federal Government has inaugurated a new initiative aimed at strengthening the investigation of engineering failures in Nigeria following a study that recorded 111 validated building collapse incidents and 321 deaths between 2015 and 2025.

The initiative, known as the Certified Forensic Engineering Failure Investigator (CEFFI) programme, is designed to develop specialists capable of investigating the technical causes of building collapses and other engineering failures.

The programme was inaugurated in Abuja through a partnership involving the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI).

The initiative comes amid continuing concerns over building collapses across the country, particularly in rapidly developing urban areas.

A 2026 study published in the University of Abuja Journal of Engineering and Technology examined 111 validated building collapse cases recorded between 2015 and 2025.

The study reported 321 deaths and 344 injuries linked to the incidents. Structural defects, poor construction practices and inferior materials were identified among the leading identifiable triggers, although the researchers noted that the causes of some incidents could not be clearly established.

Forensic investigation identified as a critical gap

Speaking during the induction of the first group of CEFFI professionals, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIFCFIN, Iliyasu Gashinbaki, said the scale of losses associated with engineering failures demonstrated the need for more systematic investigations.

He said forensic engineering could help investigators establish what happened before and during an engineering failure, preserve relevant technical evidence and determine whether negligence, malpractice, fraud or deliberate violations of safety requirements contributed to an incident.

Gashinbaki urged regulators, contractors, project owners, professional organisations and law enforcement agencies to ensure that investigations do not end once a collapsed structure has been demolished, repaired or abandoned.

He said investigations should establish the facts surrounding each failure and use the findings to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

COREN calls for more trained investigators

The President of COREN, Sadiq Abubakar, said the programme would combine conventional engineering knowledge with forensic investigation techniques.

He described the training as an important step towards addressing gaps in the investigation of engineering failures in Nigeria, particularly within the construction and built environment sectors.

Abubakar called for the development of a larger pool of professionally trained investigators who could be deployed when buildings collapse or other engineering failures occur.

He said forensic engineering should not be restricted to building collapses, noting that the approach could also be applied to failures and incidents in sectors including mining, oil and gas, telecommunications, transportation, aviation and aerospace.

COREN has also indicated plans to develop a register of engineers trained in failure analysis and forensic investigation. Such specialists could support investigations into building collapses and other engineering incidents.

Building collapse remains a longstanding challenge

Nigeria’s building collapse problem predates the newly launched CEFFI programme.

Historical records and studies have documented building failures in the country over several decades, with researchers repeatedly identifying issues involving construction materials, design, workmanship, supervision, foundations, maintenance and compliance with approved building requirements.

One documented historical case involved the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction at Mokola in Ibadan in October 1974, where 27 people were reported killed.

Research examining previous building collapse incidents has also identified poor-quality materials and workmanship, excessive loading, design errors, maintenance problems and other factors among possible contributors.

The persistence of such incidents has led to repeated calls for stronger enforcement of building regulations, improved construction supervision and greater use of qualified professionals throughout the construction process.

NBRRI has conducted technical investigations

The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute has been involved in technical investigations of failed structures for years.

The institute’s mandate covers research into areas including building construction, engineering materials, foundations, earthworks and construction methods.

Its technical investigations have examined several building failures, with findings in individual cases pointing to factors such as poor concrete quality, inadequate construction practices and insufficient technical supervision.

NBRRI investigations have also examined site conditions, construction documents, laboratory results and interviews with relevant parties when determining the circumstances surrounding structural failures.

The institute has previously highlighted issues including substandard materials, poor workmanship, inadequate supervision, the absence of qualified professionals, deficient designs and unsuitable site conditions as areas requiring attention in construction.

Why failure investigations matter

A building collapse investigation involves more than determining that a structure has failed.

Investigators may need to establish the sequence of events and identify the underlying conditions that led to the failure.

This can involve examining structural drawings, construction records, materials used on site, soil conditions, workmanship, loads placed on the structure, alterations, maintenance history and regulatory approvals.

A comprehensive investigation can also help distinguish the immediate cause of a collapse from deeper failures in design, construction, supervision or regulation.

NBRRI’s previous work has highlighted some of the difficulties investigators can face, including gaining access to collapse sites and obtaining relevant information from contractors and other authorities.

The development of a stronger forensic engineering system could therefore provide a more structured process for preserving evidence, conducting technical assessments and producing reports that can assist regulators, professional bodies, courts and project owners.

Programme seeks to turn failure into prevention

The CEFFI initiative is intended to strengthen the capacity of professionals to investigate engineering failures and establish the circumstances surrounding them.

For building collapses, the objective extends beyond determining why a particular structure failed.

Investigators can potentially use findings from individual cases to identify recurring problems and provide information that can inform construction practices, regulatory enforcement, professional standards and safety measures.

This approach could also provide regulators and other stakeholders with technical evidence when determining whether negligence, malpractice or breaches of established requirements contributed to a failure.

Wider construction safety concerns

The renewed focus on engineering failure investigations comes as Nigeria continues to deal with safety challenges across its built environment.

Building collapses can result in fatalities, injuries, loss of property and disruption to communities, while also exposing weaknesses in construction processes and regulatory oversight.

The 2026 study that examined 111 validated building collapse cases between 2015 and 2025 recorded 321 deaths and 344 injuries, underlining the human consequences associated with structural failures.

The launch of the forensic engineering programme is therefore expected to complement existing efforts aimed at improving construction standards and reducing the occurrence and impact of engineering failures.

For the programme to have a lasting effect, its findings will need to feed into enforcement, professional practice, construction supervision and the wider regulation of Nigeria’s built environment.

The initiative represents a move towards strengthening the technical investigation of engineering failures, with the ultimate objective of using evidence from past incidents to improve safety and prevent avoidable losses in future construction projects.