Architects demand decisive action from Sanwo-Olu over incessant building collapse

Concerned about the recurring cases of building collapse and fatalities, primarily in Lagos State, the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take more decisive actions to ensure compliance with established structural rules.

Expressing dismay over the repeated building failures and the rising death toll, the NIA emphasized the urgency for Sanwo-Olu to expedite the enforcement of building regulations in collaboration with professionals. This collaborative effort is seen as crucial to prevent Lagos from becoming an epicenter of unnecessary tragedy.

Architect Mobolaji Adeniyi, the NIA’s National President, conveyed this concern in a statement released in Ado-Ekiti following the tragic building collapse in Ebute Metta on December 22, 2023, resulting in the loss of innocent lives.

Deeply affected by these incidents, Adeniyi passionately called for immediate measures to enhance safety for Lagos residents, stating that the situation is gaining attention and bringing national and global embarrassment to Nigeria.

As part of effective mitigation measures, Adeniyi advocated that only registered architects certified by ARCON and other qualified professionals should be entrusted with the responsibility of handling high-rise buildings. This, he believes, would help reduce the risks of building collapses.

Adeniyi suggested, “This can be successfully enforced by embedding professionally registered architects in the State and Local Government Planning and Development Control offices to vet these projects from their design stage to their development compliance stages.”

The NIA leader extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and the Lagos State Government, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive mitigating and safety measures.

According to her, “This incident, echoing a recurrent pattern in Lagos, underscores the critical necessity for robust strategies to safeguard buildings within the state. We have had enough, and we must all coalesce actions and expertise to halt such occurrences.”

Adeniyi revealed that the institute has dispatched the Lagos Chapter Chairman, Arc. David Majekodunmi, FNIA, to conduct a swift on-site assessment and provide a detailed report on the frightening incident.

She expressed NIA’s readiness to collaborate with the Lagos State Government, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), and other relevant agencies to investigate the root causes of these incidents and develop effective preventive solutions.

Adeniyi stressed that the NIA’s charge to the government was deemed expedient because part of the collective responsibilities of architects is ensuring best building practices, structural integrity, and environmental safety.

“NIA’s proactive stance aims to instigate enduring changes in building safety practices, not only in Lagos but across the country. As professionals, we can’t fold our arms and allow the situation to degenerate before our intervention.

“We believe all Nigerians must be safe wherever they live. We are battling economic, political, and other social problems, and building collapse shouldn’t be allowed to assume a calamity of national dimension. The time to address it is now,” she said.