Real estate experts, stakeholders raise alarm over building collapses in Lagos, demand urgent reforms
LAGOS — Leading voices in Nigeria’s built environment have sounded fresh warnings over the persistent threat of building collapse in Lagos, calling for sweeping reforms in regulatory oversight and construction practices.
The alarm was raised during the Professor Leke Oduwaye–Adron Homes Urban Development Dialogue held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), a high-level forum convened by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) in collaboration with real estate powerhouse, Adron Homes.
Themed “Recurring Building Collapse in Lagos: The Challenge of Regulatory Oversight and Construction Practices,” the dialogue brought together professionals, government officials, academics, and private sector players to examine the underlying causes of the frequent structural failures and proffer lasting solutions.
Delivering goodwill remarks, the Group Chairman of Adron Group, Sir Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing, KOF, described the incessant building collapses as “avoidable tragedies” driven not by fate, but by human error, corruption, and regulatory failures.
“Buildings do not collapse by accident. They collapse because somewhere along the chain of planning, approval, construction, or supervision, individuals choose to compromise,” he stated.
He called for strict enforcement of standards through what he termed the “Three Pillars of Action”—Verification, Validation, and Control. EmmanuelKing urged all industry players to embrace accountability and uphold the highest levels of competence and ethical conduct.
Former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. (Dr.) Idris Salako FNITP, delivered the keynote lecture, offering a scathing assessment of the current state of the building sector in Lagos. Dr. Salako pointed to lapses in enforcement of planning laws, poor coordination among regulatory bodies, and widespread flouting of approved building plans as key drivers of collapse incidents.
He also identified political interference, corruption, and the proliferation of unqualified practitioners as major setbacks to the integrity of the industry. Dr. Salako emphasized the need for capacity development among regulatory agencies, mandatory training for artisans, and the full digitalization of building approval systems to promote transparency and efficiency.
In his address, Tpl. Tunji Odunlami FNITP, Ogun State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, called for stronger inter-agency collaboration and the institutionalization of planning best practices across Nigeria. Also speaking, Professor Ayo Omotayo, Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, stressed the urgency of embracing proactive urban planning to prevent future disasters.
Chairman of the event, Tpl. Waheed Kadiri FNITP, PPNITP, a past president of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, commended the University of Lagos and Adron Homes for initiating the dialogue, noting that such platforms are vital for shaping policy and driving sectoral change.
Other dignitaries present included Professor Modupe Omirin, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, UNILAG; Dr. Taofik Salau, Head of DURP, UNILAG; and Dr. S.A. Adeyemi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee.
In a unified call to action, participants advocated for urgent regulatory reforms, increased professionalism, and enhanced enforcement mechanisms to stem the tide of building collapses and protect lives and investments.
The dialogue is expected to stimulate policy reviews and renewed stakeholder engagement aimed at building safer, resilient, and sustainable urban environments across Lagos and Nigeria.
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