The Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) revealed that Nigeria experienced 41 building collapses over the past 17 months, averaging more than two collapses per month. This alarming trend was highlighted by NICE's National Chairman, Virgilus Ezugu, during the NICE Building Collapse Prevention Workshop in Abuja, themed “Stemming the Tide of Building Collapse Menace in Nigeria.”
In response to this crisis, NICE established a committee in 2023 dedicated to preventing building collapses. This committee has been actively collecting data on reported collapses since January 2023. Ezugu emphasized that the actual number of collapses could be higher, as over 50 percent of incidents are not reported. NICE is committed to addressing this issue by providing nationwide training and organizing workshops to develop a comprehensive handbook for stakeholders.
Keynote speaker Prof. Samson Duna, CEO of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), attributed the frequent collapses to the use of substandard materials, particularly during the rainy season. Duna recommended continuous training for engineers and professionals in the construction sector and emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding building project protocols. He also called for stricter monitoring and evaluation of building projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), stressed the need for stakeholders to collaborate in addressing the building collapse challenge. He noted that the built environment must be well-organized and structured, with COREN setting up committees to tackle various sectors. Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), urged engineers to adhere to principles of safety, reliability, and sustainability, advocating for rigorous application of engineering standards and continuous professional development to prevent further collapses.
