The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, has said Nigeria recorded 22 building collapses between January and July 2024.
The President of COREN, Prof Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
The news conference is themed, “The Incessant Spate of Building Collapse in Nigeria in Recent Times: A Call for Sustainable Collaboration by All Stakeholders.”
According to Abubakar, from January to July 14 alone, no fewer than 22 cases of building collapse have been reported in Nigeria, with Lagos having 27.27 per cent, Abuja and Anambra at 18.18 per cent each.
He further stated that Ekiti and Plateau followed with 9.09 per cent each, and Kano, Taraba, and Niger states accounted for 4.55 per cent each.
“Records also showed that Lagos takes the lead in the incidence of building collapses.
“As a matter of fact, over 91 buildings have collapsed, resulting in the deaths of over 354 persons in Lagos from 2012 to date.
“Similarly, in Abuja, about 30 buildings have collapsed from 1993 until date, resulting in the deaths of more than 64 persons and injury of many.
“The most recent occurrences of building collapses close to DMGS Onitsha, Anambra State, on June 12 and that of a school (Saint Academy) in Plateau on July 13, where 22 students died and 134 were injured, as well as the building collapse in Kubwa, Abuja,” he added.
The COREN boss said that the incidents were worrisome, stressing that they call for deep reflection and collaboration among all stakeholders in stemming the tide.