Nigeria Reports 1,600 Deaths from Building Collapses

During a stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja, Dr Muttaqha Darma, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, revealed that Nigeria has experienced over 650 building collapses resulting in more than 1,600 deaths since 1974. He emphasized that these statistics represent tragic losses rather than mere numbers, highlighting the absence of licensed professionals and accountability in the construction sector.

In response to these challenges, the Federal Government is proposing a National Housing and Built Environment Regulation Policy aimed at enforcing stricter regulations, including the licensing of developers and agents, improving construction standards, and establishing a National Housing Industry Regulatory Commission to ensure compliance. Dr Shuaib Belgore, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, noted that weak regulatory enforcement and fragmented data have compromised housing quality and safety.

The proposed reforms aim to enhance planning, compliance, and ultimately prevent avoidable building collapse disasters across Nigeria.