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.

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Fresh concerns have emerged over Nigeria’s recurring building collapse crisis, with industry experts warning that failures in design, construction, and supervision continue to put lives and investments at risk.

The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors has attributed the persistent problem to a mix of technical lapses and human decisions across different stages of construction.

Speaking in Lagos during a professional event, the institute’s president, Aminu Bashir, said building collapse cannot be traced to a single cause, stressing that responsibility often cuts across multiple actors involved in a project.

He explained that while some structures may begin with sound architectural and engineering designs, compromises during execution frequently undermine the integrity of such projects. According to him, professionals handling construction sometimes cut corners, a practice that significantly increases the risk of structural failure.

Bashir noted that in some cases, projects are initiated without proper input from qualified engineers, while others suffer from poor professional advice or weak adherence to approved plans. He warned that even a well-designed building could fail if standards are ignored during implementation.

The NIQS president also pointed to regulatory gaps, stating that oversight failures remain a critical part of the problem. He said authorities responsible for monitoring construction activities often fail to carry out proper inspections before approving progression from one stage of work to another.

According to him, the consequences of these lapses are evident in the growing number of building failures recorded across the country, many of which have resulted in casualties, financial losses, and public anxiety.

He emphasised that tackling the crisis requires a coordinated effort from all stakeholders, including designers, contractors, regulators, and project supervisors. From planning and procurement to execution and monitoring, he said every stage must be handled with strict professionalism to ensure safety.

Bashir added that the institute is considering engagement with Bola Tinubu as part of broader efforts to align construction practices with national development priorities.

He noted that effective cost management and professional oversight would play a key role in delivering infrastructure projects under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Industry observers say the latest warning reinforces growing calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations and greater accountability within Nigeria’s construction sector.

With urban development accelerating across major cities, experts maintain that failure to address systemic weaknesses could lead to more structural disasters, further eroding public confidence in the country’s regulatory framework.

The post Building Collapse Blame Game Deepens as Experts Point to Design, Execution Failures appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Students and teachers narrowly escaped death on Monday after a four-storey school building collapsed in the Ogba area of Lagos shortly after the occupants were evacuated.

The building, which housed Yemco Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College, collapsed around midday at 11 Adudatu Street, behind County Hospital in the Aguda axis of Ogba.

Witnesses said the structure gave way just minutes after students and staff members were hurried out of the premises, preventing what residents described as a potential tragedy.

Residents recount moment of collapse

A resident in the area said the building collapsed about three minutes after the evacuation was carried out.

According to the witness, the quick action taken by school authorities helped prevent casualties.

The resident explained that the evacuation was triggered after wooden planks reportedly fell from the roof of the building, raising concerns among people in the neighbourhood.

An elderly man living nearby reportedly alerted school management about the possible danger, prompting the immediate evacuation of students and teachers.

Another resident, Taiwo Ridwan, said the building had shown visible signs of distress shortly before it collapsed.

He explained that cracks began appearing in the structure and window frames had already fallen apart before the incident occurred.

According to him, the outer cement layer of the building began peeling off before the structure eventually gave way.

Emergency response at the scene

Officials from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later arrived at the scene and secured the area to prevent residents from accessing the collapsed structure.

Authorities restricted movement around the site while emergency teams assessed the situation.

Part of the property used for residential purposes was still standing beside the collapsed section of the building.

No casualties reported

As of the time of reporting, no casualties had been confirmed from the incident.

Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were unsuccessful.

The agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Margaret Adeseye, had not issued a formal response regarding the cause of the collapse.

Building collapses remain a recurring concern in Lagos, often raising questions about structural safety, regulatory compliance and building standards in the state.

The post Students Escape Death as Four-Storey School Building Collapses in Lagos appeared first on Housing TV Africa.