An environmentalist and Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative, Mr Philip Jakpor, has attributed the collapse of a three-storey building in the Alakija area of Lagos to persistent regulatory failures in Nigeria’s construction sector.
Speaking in an interview on Monday in Lagos, Jakpor said the incident reflects a long-standing pattern of building collapses across the country, many of which have resulted in the loss of lives and property.
According to him, the recurring incidents are largely caused by the use of substandard building materials, poor structural designs and weak enforcement of building regulations.
“Nigeria will continue to witness building collapses unless authorities prioritise compliance with standards and quality assurance measures,” he said.
Jakpor maintained that the Federal Government bears the primary responsibility for regulating imported and locally manufactured building materials to prevent substandard products from entering the market.
He also criticised state governments for inadequate monitoring and enforcement of building regulations, stressing the need for stricter compliance with approved building standards throughout the construction process.
The environmentalist noted that the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development was already in existence when the collapsed structure was built. He said the ministry should explain how the building escaped effective regulatory oversight, especially if contravention notices had previously been issued.
Jakpor called for stricter enforcement of building codes and greater accountability among regulatory agencies, adding that preventing future building collapses would require coordinated efforts by federal and state authorities to ensure adherence to safety standards.
The three-storey building in the Alakija area of Lagos collapsed on Thursday, claiming the lives of nine persons.
A total of 27 people were rescued through the coordinated efforts of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and other emergency responders.
