LASBCA Urges Building Professionals to Respect Their Roles for Safer Construction

The Lagos State Building Control Agency has warned professionals in the built environment against taking on responsibilities outside their areas of expertise, stressing that clearly defined roles and stronger collaboration are essential to improving construction safety.

The General Manager of LASBCA, Gbaye Florence, gave the warning on Thursday at a conference organised by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Amuwo-Odofin Cell, in Satellite Town, Lagos.

The conference, themed “Building Resilient Lagos through Synergy,” was held against the backdrop of the collapse of a four-storey building on Ladipo Street, Satellite Town, in June, which claimed several lives.

Gbaye said the construction industry could not achieve safer and more resilient buildings when professionals abandoned their defined responsibilities and attempted to perform functions that required different areas of expertise.

She compared the construction process to a surgical procedure, explaining that different specialists have specific responsibilities but must work together to achieve a successful outcome.

According to her, an architect should not take over the responsibilities of a geotechnical or structural engineer, surveyor or regulator simply because their roles are connected within the same project.

She stressed that every professional involved in the built environment must understand the limits of their expertise and work with other specialists where necessary.

Gbaye said government could not address building safety challenges alone and called for greater cooperation among architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical consultants, town planners and other professionals.

She said the different professionals needed to work collectively rather than attempting to handle every aspect of a construction project themselves.

“Let the town planners do what they are supposed to do; let an architect consider the functionality by having the brief from the developer and advising them rightly on what to do,” she said.

She added that structural engineers had a specific responsibility to ensure that buildings could safely carry their loads and that professionals should not compromise structural safety by relying on assumptions that a defective or inadequate structure could simply be managed.

Gbaye urged professionals to organise themselves around their respective responsibilities and engage the appropriate specialists throughout the construction process.

LASBCA calls for community involvement

The LASBCA general manager also called on institutional bodies, community leaders and other stakeholders to report distressed buildings within their communities.

She said early identification and reporting of buildings showing signs of distress could enable the relevant authorities to intervene before the situation became dangerous.

The call followed renewed concerns about building safety in Lagos, where rapid urban development has increased the importance of effective monitoring and enforcement of construction standards.

Gbaye’s position was that building safety should not be treated solely as a responsibility of government agencies, with professionals and communities also having roles to play in identifying and addressing potential risks.

Building Collapse Prevention Guild seeks stronger community action

The coordinator of the conference, Chibuike Okafor, said the June building collapse in Satellite Town had highlighted the need for communities to become more actively involved in building safety.

Okafor said the incident demonstrated that government agencies could not independently monitor every building and construction activity across Lagos.

He said communities therefore had a responsibility to raise concerns and alert the appropriate authorities when they noticed potentially dangerous structures or construction practices.

“In the face of this tragedy, we realised that the government alone cannot do it all. As a community, we have a role to play,” Okafor said.

He said collective action was necessary to protect lives and improve safety within communities.

According to him, community participation could complement the work of regulators and professionals by ensuring that potential hazards were identified and reported early.

Stakeholders call for collective responsibility

The chairman of the occasion, Austin Otuoke, also described the frequency of building collapses in Lagos as a reason for greater collective responsibility among construction professionals and other stakeholders.

Otuoke said Lagos needed to continue developing, but that urban expansion had to be accompanied by attention to safety and proper construction practices.

“We have to develop a city we can bequeath to the next generation. Lagos must develop, but we must ensure it develops safely,” he said.

He argued that no government could independently make Lagos a resilient city and called for partnerships among government agencies, professionals, communities and other stakeholders.

The conference brought renewed attention to the need for clearer professional responsibilities, effective collaboration and community involvement in preventing building failures.

For LASBCA, ensuring that architects, engineers, planners and other built-environment professionals operate within their areas of expertise is part of the wider effort to improve construction standards and protect lives.

The agency’s warning also reinforces the importance of coordinated professional input at different stages of development, from planning and design to structural engineering, construction, inspection and regulation.

As Lagos continues to expand, stakeholders at the conference emphasised that the city’s housing and infrastructure growth must be matched by stronger cooperation and adherence to professional responsibilities to improve the safety and resilience of its built environment.

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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.

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Building experts have attributed between 90 and 95 per cent of building collapses in Nigeria to unqualified practitioners operating outside professional standards.

The experts also identified quackery as a major contributor to the recurring collapse of buildings across the country.

A former Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Godfrey Chukwurah, linked the problem partly to poverty.

He said economic hardship had pushed unqualified people into the building industry without the required professional training or licences.

Chukwurah said such individuals often become involved in design, structural work and construction without adequate technical competence.

He warned that cutting corners and avoiding professional accountability could compromise the safety and durability of buildings.

Poor Construction Practices

Chukwurah also identified substandard construction materials as another concern.

He said professional bodies had raised concerns about the quality of materials, including reinforcement products used in construction.

He further linked many collapses occurring during wet construction to failures involving formwork.

Formwork provides temporary support for wet concrete and other construction activities before permanent structural elements become self-supporting.

Foundation Problems

Civil engineer Okey Emelibe identified poor foundation design and construction as another major cause of building failure.

He explained that different structures require different foundation systems based on factors such as building size and design.

These include strip, pad and raft foundations, with each having specific technical requirements.

Emelibe also identified inferior materials, inadequate engineering supervision and the use of unqualified workers as contributing factors.

Experts Seek Stronger Regulation

The experts called for stronger regulatory enforcement across Nigeria’s construction industry.

Emelibe urged governments to ensure that qualified professionals oversee construction projects and that builders use appropriate materials.

He also recommended reducing approval charges while strengthening professional oversight during the approval and construction processes.

The concerns come amid renewed attention to building safety following recent building collapses in Nigeria.

The issue has also increased pressure on authorities to enforce existing building regulations and hold developers accountable for violations.

What Happens Next

Stronger enforcement will require regulators to identify unqualified practitioners, monitor construction sites and ensure compliance with approved building plans.

Experts also want greater accountability from developers and property owners who engage unlicensed workers.

Without effective enforcement, poor construction practices could continue to expose residents and workers to avoidable risks.

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Several people are feared trapped after a four-storey building under construction collapsed at Independence Layout, Enugu State, on Sunday morning.

The building, located at No. 1 Ogbaguru Street, opposite St Patrick’s Hospital, reportedly collapsed at about 8:00 a.m.

The structure was said to be under construction for use as a hotel when part of it suddenly gave way.

Construction workers were reportedly staying inside the uncompleted building when the collapse occurred.

A viral video posted by activist Chuks showed residents and passersby gathered around the site as frantic rescue efforts began.

An eyewitness who filmed the scene said the collapse happened about 30 minutes before he arrived.

He said people were still believed to be trapped inside the building.

“People are still inside. Look at the collapsed side. Half or part of the building,” the eyewitness said.

Eyewitness Calls for Excavator

The eyewitness later entered part of the structure to determine whether anyone trapped beneath the debris could be heard.

He appealed to government authorities to urgently provide an excavator and other equipment to support the rescue operation.

He also spoke with a man identified as Bruce, who appeared to have escaped from the building.

The eyewitness warned Bruce against remaining inside the unstable structure, saying the remaining portion could also collapse.

He further said some people were believed to be alive beneath the rubble as residents attempted to cut through metal rods and debris.

“They are still alive and we are praying that nothing will press down the lumps of blocks, concrete and all that,” he said.

Vehicles Damaged, Electrical Hazard Raised

The collapse reportedly affected vehicles parked within the premises of the nearby St Patrick’s Hospital.

According to the eyewitness, debris fell towards the hospital area and damaged some vehicles.

He also raised concerns about electrical hazards at the scene after roofing materials became entangled with electric wires.

“If it is still on, it is dangerous,” he warned, calling for electricity around the area to be disconnected.

Hundreds of residents and passersby reportedly gathered at the scene after hearing the sound of the collapse.

Locals joined efforts to rescue those believed to be trapped, but the heavy debris was said to be slowing the operation.

Cause of Collapse Unknown

The exact cause of the building collapse was not immediately known as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has renewed concerns over building regulations, construction standards, professional supervision and the activities of unqualified practitioners.

Building collapses remain a recurring concern in Nigeria, often raising questions about regulatory enforcement and accountability.

The post Breaking: Four-Storey Building Collapses in Enugu, Several Feared Trapped appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Ebonyi State Government has intensified its enforcement campaign against unsafe and substandard buildings as part of efforts to prevent structural collapses, improve public safety, and strengthen compliance with building regulations across the state.

The renewed crackdown follows growing concerns over the increasing number of building collapse incidents recorded in different parts of Nigeria. State officials said the initiative is designed to identify defective structures, enforce compliance with approved building standards, and ensure that construction projects adhere to established planning and engineering requirements.

According to the government, relevant regulatory agencies have been directed to conduct comprehensive inspections of buildings under construction and existing structures suspected to pose safety risks. Property owners and developers found to have violated building regulations may face sanctions, including stop-work orders, demolition of unsafe structures, or other penalties provided under the law.

Officials emphasised that developers must obtain all necessary planning approvals before commencing construction and engage qualified professionals, including architects, engineers, builders, and quantity surveyors, throughout the building process. They noted that strict adherence to approved designs and construction standards remains essential to safeguarding lives and property.

The government also urged residents to report buildings showing visible signs of structural distress or projects suspected to be violating planning regulations. Authorities said community participation would complement ongoing inspection efforts and help reduce the risk of avoidable building failures.

Construction professionals have consistently identified poor workmanship, the use of substandard building materials, inadequate supervision, and non-compliance with approved building codes as some of the leading causes of structural collapse in Nigeria. They argue that stronger regulatory enforcement and routine inspections are necessary to improve safety within the construction industry.

Urban development experts welcomed Ebonyi’s initiative, noting that proactive monitoring and enforcement can significantly reduce the incidence of building collapse while promoting sustainable urban development. They added that continued investment in regulatory capacity and public awareness will be critical to improving construction quality and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s housing sector.

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The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has blamed the developer of the collapsed building along Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for allegedly violating approved construction plans by adding an extra floor to the structure.

The authority made the disclosure during an inspection of the collapse site led by the Executive Director of Project Implementation, Oluremi Omowaiye, alongside officials of the agency and the Rivers State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Edward Hart.

According to Omowaiye, the building approval granted by the FHA on February 20, 2024, was strictly for a three-storey structure based on the submitted architectural and structural drawings. He alleged that the developer disregarded the approval and proceeded to add an additional floor.

“The approval issued was for three suspended floors. We are surprised that the developer went ahead to construct an extra floor contrary to the approved design,” he said.

Omowaiye disclosed that engineers from the FHA headquarters and the agency’s technical team were immediately deployed to the site after the collapse to support rescue operations and assess the cause of the incident.

He commended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and emergency response agencies for their swift intervention following the tragedy.

The FHA official revealed that the agency had previously directed the developer to halt construction after officials observed deviations from the approved plan, but the directive was allegedly ignored.

“When our engineers noticed they were exceeding the approval, they directed them to stop, but they refused,” Omowaiye stated.

He further recalled that the Managing Director of the FHA, Oyetunde Ojo, had recently issued public warnings to developers carrying out projects on FHA lands to comply with approved standards and regulations.

Preliminary inspections, according to the FHA, also revealed signs of substandard construction materials. Omowaiye said samples of concrete, reinforcement materials and structural drawings had been forwarded to the agency’s headquarters for scientific analysis.

He disclosed that unstable sections of the collapsed structure would undergo controlled demolition to facilitate rescue efforts and ensure public safety. Residents living in nearby buildings are also expected to be relocated temporarily to allow emergency responders unrestricted access to the site.

To strengthen building compliance nationwide, Omowaiye said the FHA has established a dedicated enforcement department and introduced a stage-by-stage approval monitoring system for construction projects.

He added that the authority recently demolished several buildings in Abuja, Lagos and Kano after they failed structural integrity assessments.

“We mean business. We are committed to ensuring quality housing delivery and preventing avoidable building failures through strict enforcement of standards,” he said.

The building collapse has renewed concerns over adherence to construction regulations and the growing number of structural failures recorded in different parts of the country.

The post FHA Blames Developer for Port Harcourt Building Collapse, Says Approved Plan Was Altered appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to demolish all buildings identified as structurally distressed around the site of the collapsed three-storey building in Alakija, Satellite Town, as part of efforts to prevent future disasters.

The government also vowed to prosecute the owners of the collapsed structure and any other individuals found to have violated building regulations or obstructed enforcement actions.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, disclosed this on Friday while inspecting the site on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to him, the governor is deeply saddened by the incident and has extended condolences to the families of the victims.

Omotoso revealed that 27 people were rescued alive from the rubble, while nine others lost their lives during the rescue operation.

Emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Police, the Command and Control Centre, and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, remained at the scene to complete recovery efforts.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu is saddened by this incident. He sends his condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones,” Omotoso said.

He disclosed that the collapsed building had previously been identified as structurally distressed and marked for demolition, with occupants directed to vacate the premises.

“This tragedy should not have happened. The building had been marked as distressed and occupants were asked to move out, but the directive was ignored. Livelihoods were unfortunately prioritised over lives,” he stated.

The commissioner announced that all other buildings already marked as unsafe within the vicinity would be demolished without delay to protect lives and property.

He further stated that the owners of the collapsed structure, as well as owners of other distressed buildings found culpable, would face prosecution under Lagos State laws.

“Anyone found to have violated building regulations or frustrated enforcement efforts will be prosecuted. Owners of the collapsed and other distressed buildings will be held accountable under the law,” he said.

Omotoso also condemned the construction of buildings beneath high-tension electricity lines, describing the practice as dangerous and unacceptable.

“You cannot build under high-tension power lines. It is dangerous and unacceptable in any civilised society. It shows a disregard for the law, and the government will not tolerate it,” he added.

He noted that investigations into the cause of the collapse were ongoing while survivors continued to receive medical treatment at various hospitals.

The commissioner advised residents occupying buildings around the affected area to relocate immediately and comply with safety directives issued by the authorities.

He also commended emergency responders for their professionalism and dedication throughout the rescue mission.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, praised first responders and security agencies for their tireless efforts during the operation, which continued until the structure was completely brought down.

Also present during the inspection was the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, who lauded the coordinated response of emergency agencies in managing the disaster.

The post Lagos to Demolish Distressed Buildings After Alakija Collapse, Prosecute Owners appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Lagos State Government has dismissed claims of ethnic bias in the recent demolition at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, describing the operation as a technical enforcement of planning laws.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olumide Oluyinka, made the clarification saying the action was part of a wider regulatory effort across the state.

“This has nothing to do with ethnicity,” Oluyinka said. “We’ve carried out similar operations in areas like Owode Onirin, Idumota, and Ikeja. It’s purely about compliance with urban planning laws.”

He criticized the Trade Fair Complex management for leasing land to private developers without proper approval. Some of the buildings, he noted, were dangerously close to public roads and lacked professional design oversight.

Oluyinka said affected occupants were given ample notice, including visits as far back as March 2024. He also alleged that government officers attempting to serve notices were detained and harassed.

“It’s false to claim there was no warning,” he added. “We engaged the management multiple times and were even met with resistance.”

Describing the complex’s current state as unacceptable, the commissioner said the intervention was necessary. “Refuse, drainage, sewage everything is in disrepair. We’re acting in the public interest.”

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing planning laws fairly across all communities, regardless of ethnicity.

Source: Channels Tv

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