Quackery, poor oversight make Nigerian buildings death traps

Building collapses in Nigeria have become an alarming safety issue, particularly in Lagos State, according to experts who point to quackery, inadequate oversight, and substandard building materials as the primary culprits. A 2022 report by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) highlighted building collapse as a significant obstacle to sustainable development in Nigeria, with the country losing properties valued at $3.2tn to collapses over the past two decades.

In 2024 alone, the BCPG reported 47 building collapse incidents across 14 states, with Lagos leading the count at 13 incidents, followed by Abuja, Anambra, Kano, and Rivers. Lagos State accounted for 55.15% of the recorded incidents, more than double the rate of any other region. The first recorded building collapse in Nigeria occurred in 1971 in Oyo State, resulting in 27 deaths when a multi-storey building collapsed due to excessive loading.

Since then, building collapses have continued to rise, despite promises of reforms. In July 2026, a three-storey student hostel in Anambra State collapsed, trapping an unknown number of occupants, mostly students, under the rubble for hours before rescue teams arrived. Emergency services, including the Anambra State Fire Service, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, and the Anambra State Police Command, conducted rescue operations at the scene.

The National Emergency Management Agency later suspended search-and-rescue operations, clearing at least 50% of the debris, but plans to resume the search the following day.