According to a report by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), 22 cases of building collapse and 33 deaths were recorded between January and July 2024.
On Wednesday, COREN’s president, Prof Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja titled “The Incessant Spate of Building Collapse in Nigeria in Recent Times: A Call for Sustainable Collaboration by All Stakeholders.”
Abubakar said 22 cases of building collapse in Nigeria had been reported from January to July 14, with Lagos at 27.27% and Abuja and Anambra at 18.18% each. Following suit is Ekiti and Plateau with 9.09% each, Kano, Taraba and Niger states accounting for 4.55% each.
“Records also showed that Lagos takes the lead in the incidence of building collapses.
“As a matter of fact, over 91 buildings have collapsed, resulting in the deaths of over 354 persons in Lagos from 2012 to date.
“Similarly, in Abuja, about 30 buildings have collapsed from 1993 until date, resulting in the deaths of more than 64 persons and injury of many.
“The most recent occurrences of building collapses close to DMGS Onitsha, Anambra State, on June 12 and that of a school (Saint Academy) in Plateau on July 13, where 22 students died and 134 were injured, as well as the building collapse in Kubwa, Abuja,” he added.
The head of COREN expressed concern about the events, emphasising the need for serious consideration and cooperation among all parties to address the issue.