Collapse after collapse - why Lagos buildings keep crashing down

In Lagos, Nigeria, the issue of building collapses has become a serious concern, with reports indicating that a building has fallen down approximately every two weeks this year. Rescue operations are currently underway at a three-story building that collapsed on May 2, 2022. While the financial implications of these collapses can be calculated, the loss of life is immeasurable and tragic. The spaces that once held buildings are now filled with debris, highlighting a significant failure in governance and raising questions about the integrity of contractors who may be cutting corners to save money. Although there are regulations in place, maintenance schedules, and inspectors assigned to oversee construction, the system appears to be ineffective. Those responsible for ensuring safety and compliance are rarely held accountable, leading to a cycle of negligence and inaction. Lagos has earned the unfortunate title of 'the building-collapse capital of Nigeria,' with at least 90 buildings collapsing over the past twelve years, resulting in more than 350 fatalities, according to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. One particularly devastating incident occurred in 2021 when a 21-story luxury apartment building under construction collapsed in the upscale Ikoyi neighborhood, claiming the lives of 42 individuals. Witnesses like Sunday Femi, who was nearby at the time, described the horrifying experience of hearing the crash and being engulfed in dust. He rushed to help but lost friends in the tragedy, a memory that haunts him to this day. The aftermath of the collapse saw hundreds of people gathering to search for their loved ones, and the site was heavily guarded to prevent unauthorized access. Despite the ongoing investigation into the collapse, the findings have not been made public, and the state governor has yet to release any recommendations from the expert panel that conducted the inquiry. The coroner's report from 2022 was particularly scathing, attributing the collapse to the negligence of government agencies responsible for approving and supervising construction projects. As Lagos's population continues to grow, now exceeding 20 million, the demand for housing and commercial properties has skyrocketed, leading to a construction boom across the city. However, before any construction can begin, plans must be approved by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Agency, and inspectors from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) are supposed to monitor the site throughout the building process. Additionally, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria is tasked with ensuring that only quality building materials are available in the market. Unfortunately, these procedures are often overlooked, and the LASBCA has faced criticism for its lack of urgency in addressing the ongoing crisis. Spokesperson Olusegun Olaoye acknowledged the challenges but attributed the issues to a lack of resources rather than corruption. Experts agree that the number of inspectors is insufficient, with calls for thousands more to be hired to ensure safety across the state. Muhammad Danmarya, an architect, emphasized that each local government area should have at least 100 inspectors, given that Lagos has 57 such areas. The absence of proper oversight has allowed some unscrupulous companies to violate building codes, use substandard materials, and employ untrained workers, all of which contribute to the high frequency of collapses. Laborer Habu Isah, who has worked on construction sites for years, shared that he has never received any formal training and learned everything on the job. Even when violations are discovered after a collapse, the LASBCA has not pursued legal action against those responsible. Olaoye admitted that there have been no prosecutions related to building collapses in Lagos, despite the alarming statistics. Allegations of political influence further complicate the situation, as individuals connected to powerful figures often escape accountability for their actions. A politician who spoke anonymously to the BBC noted that high-profile cases involving influential individuals often go unpunished. With 19 building collapses already recorded this year, it is likely that 2022 will see the highest number of incidents in the past decade. However, the lessons from these tragedies may remain unlearned, as the head of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria stated that the country lacks the capacity to conduct thorough investigations into these incidents. As a result, construction workers and others continue to pay the ultimate price for the failures in the system.