An environmentalist, Mr. Philip Jakpor, has described the collapse of a three-storey building in the Alakija area of Lagos as evidence of persistent regulatory failure in Nigeria’s construction sector.
Jakpor, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative, made the assertion in an interview with reporters on Monday in Lagos.
He said the incident reflected a pattern of building collapses recorded across the country over the past two decades, often resulting in loss of lives and property.
According to him, the use of substandard building materials, poor structural designs, and weak enforcement of building regulations remain major causes of the recurring incidents.
“Nigeria will continue to witness building collapses unless authorities prioritise compliance with standards and quality assurance measures,” he said.
Jakpor said the Federal Government has the primary responsibility of regulating imported and locally produced building materials to prevent substandard products from entering the market.
He also faulted state governments for inadequate monitoring and enforcement of building regulations.
According to him, state authorities should ensure strict compliance with approved building standards throughout the construction process.
Jakpor noted that the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development was in existence when the collapsed building was constructed.
He said the ministry should explain how the structure escaped effective regulatory scrutiny, especially if contravention notices had previously been issued.
The environmentalist called for stricter enforcement of building codes and greater accountability among regulatory agencies.
He said preventing future building collapses would require coordinated action by federal and state authorities to ensure compliance with safety standards.
The three-storey building in the Alakija area of Lagos collapsed on Thursday, killing nine persons.
A total of 27 persons were rescued through the coordinated efforts of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and other emergency responders.
The accompanying infographic provides a summary of the rescue operation.
