The Federal Government has expanded its efforts to curb the rising incidents of building collapse across Nigeria by inaugurating an enhanced Ministerial Task Team. This milestone move was spearheaded by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
The expanded task team comprises professionals from major regulatory councils and technical departments within the built environment. These include:
•Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON)
•Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)
•Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN)
•Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC)
•Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON)
•Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board (ESVARBON)
•Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON)
•Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG)
Minister Dangiwa described the frequent collapse of buildings as a national embarrassment, citing the tragic loss of lives, injuries, destruction of property, and the psychological toll on affected families. He emphasized the need for coordinated professional action to prevent future occurrences.
“These tragedies are entirely avoidable and deeply regrettable. They reflect a systemic failure that cuts across design, engineering, planning, and construction practices,” he stated.
In 2024, the Ministry had commissioned a technical committee led by Arc. Maji Liberty Alkali, which submitted 18 key recommendations. The current expansion, Dangiwa said, will ensure broader implementation and collaboration across all sectors of the built environment.
The reconstituted task team has been assigned clear terms of reference, including:
•Reviewing and phasing the implementation of the 18 approved recommendations
•Developing a national roadmap to address technical, legal, and institutional gaps
•Proposing new legislation for stronger federal oversight
•Designing a compliance checklist to promote accountability and ethical standards in construction approvals
“Architecture, engineering, surveying, and planning must all work in synergy to guarantee structural integrity and public safety,” the Minister added. “This is not the responsibility of a single profession, but a shared national duty.”
Dangiwa confirmed that resources and support would be provided to the task team through the office of the Permanent Secretary, ensuring smooth execution of their mandate. He also committed to working closely with both federal and state governments to integrate the final roadmap into housing policy frameworks.
In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, commended the professional bodies for their willingness to serve and emphasized the importance of their diverse expertise in achieving meaningful outcomes.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Arc. Umaru Usman Karaye (FNIA), Chairman of the Task Team and ARCON representative, expressed gratitude for the appointment and pledged commitment to deliver sustainable and impactful solutions. He acknowledged the gravity of the assignment and affirmed the team’s readiness to collaborate closely with the Ministry to implement reforms that will end the scourge of building collapse in Nigeria.
