REDAN Chairman Calls for Action on Building Collapses

Dr. Toni Aspir Kolawole, the Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), condemned the recurring incidents of building collapses in Nigeria, specifically referencing the collapse of a five-storey building in Rivers State on June 24 and a three-storey structure in Lagos. Kolawole stated that the nation can no longer afford to treat these collapses as unfortunate accidents, highlighting the consequences of human recklessness and institutional failures.

He criticized the culture of impunity and the compromise of building standards, which lead to the use of substandard materials and evasion of statutory inspections. Kolawole urged the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and similar agencies across the country to conduct comprehensive structural integrity inspections, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

He called for the prosecution of developers, contractors, and public officials found to have compromised building regulations, emphasizing that mere demolition of defective structures is insufficient without accountability for negligence.