Reps To Probe Incessant Building Collapse

The House of Representatives has agreed to investigate the menace of incessant building collapses in the country, to ascertain the causes and proffer lasting solutions to the issue.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Hon Aderemi Oseni from Oyo state at the plenary on Wednesday.

The lawmaker moved the motion, saying the government’s primary responsibility was to protect citizens’ lives and properties. Still, the recurring building collapse cases in major Nigerian cities have become a significant concern.

He recalled that on July 12, 2024, one hundred and fifty – four (154) people were trapped under debris in Saint Academy’s two-story building in Busa Buji community, Jos, Plateau State, with 22 deaths reported.

Oseni expressed concern that according to a Newspaper report of July 15, 2024, Nigeria experienced 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024, which caused worry and highlighted the need for urgent action.

He said, “If nothing is done to combat this emergency urgently, more lives and properties will be lost and destroyed, leading to a devastating impact on communities and the economy.

“The fact that the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and other professional associations involved in building-related issues are tasked with enforcing regulations and controlling the engineering profession to prevent established industry best practices from being compromised.”