In a renewed effort to combat the rising incidents of building collapse across Nigeria, the Federal Government has inaugurated a 14-member task team to develop and enforce sustainable solutions.
The task team, unveiled in Abuja by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, is a response to what he described as a “national embarrassment” that has led to avoidable deaths, injuries, and property loss.
Speaking at the inauguration, Dangiwa said: “The frequency of structural failures in this country is unacceptable. Beyond the physical damage, these incidents inflict long-term psychological trauma on affected families. We cannot continue to treat this issue as routine.”
The minister noted that the newly expanded task team builds on the recommendations of a previous committee chaired by architect Maji Liberty Alkali, which proposed 18 key reforms aimed at tackling the root causes of structural failures.
To ensure robust implementation, the reconstituted task team includes representatives from critical regulatory and professional bodies 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 of Nigeria (TOPREC)
Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON)
Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON)
Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON)
Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG)
Dangiwa emphasized the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration among architects, engineers, surveyors, builders, town planners, and estate valuers to address the complexity of the crisis.
The committee’s Terms of Reference include recommending phased strategies for implementing the earlier proposals, engaging stakeholders across sectors, and advising on policy reforms to embed safety standards into Nigeria’s building regulations.
“The Ministry will support the committee fully, and we are committed to integrating its recommendations into national housing and urban development policies,” the minister assured.
Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Shuiab Belgore, highlighted the urgency of the task, stating that the committee’s composition was broadened to allow for better coordination and technical synergy.
“This team reflects the multi-sectoral nature of the challenge, and we are optimistic that this approach will yield meaningful and lasting results,” Belgore added.
The committee is expected to begin work immediately.
