N4.6trn lost to building collapse in 4 years – Report

In the past four years, Nigeria has suffered significant economic losses due to building collapses, with an estimated N4.6 trillion (about $12.6 billion) in damages. This loss stems from numerous structural failures that have destroyed goods, valuable items, and even human lives. Between January 2020 and June 2026, dozens of building collapses have occurred, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries.

Lagos, the country's commercial hub, accounts for more than half of these incidents. Recent collapses have claimed dozens of lives and destroyed livelihoods, particularly in residential, commercial, and educational buildings, often during heavy rains or when occupants are asleep. These tragedies are not isolated events but rather a symptom of systemic issues in the real estate sector, including substandard materials, defective construction practices, inadequate supervision, and pressure to reduce costs.

Experts point to poor-quality blocks, defective materials, unprofessional construction methods, and insufficient oversight as key contributors to these incidents. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), state works ministries, and local councils are legally responsible for ensuring compliance with building standards. However, a recent study by the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), in collaboration with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), revealed that at least 111 building collapses occurred between 2015 and 2025, leading to 321 deaths and 344 injuries.

This translates to an average of around 32 deaths and 34 injuries annually, with fire-related losses estimated at N4.6 trillion over the same period.

To address these alarming figures, CIFCFIN has launched an initiative aimed at curbing building collapses. The initiative seeks to combine engineering, forensic science, law, regulation, and investigation to enhance the response to engineering failures. Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki, President and Chairman of CIFCFIN's Governing Council, emphasized the need to shift from reactive measures to evidence-based investigation and accountability.

He highlighted that the CEFFI initiative would bring together various stakeholders to strengthen responses to engineering failures, ensuring that negligence, fraud, malpractice, or deliberate compromise of safety are thoroughly investigated and addressed.

To prevent future collapses, it is crucial to implement stricter criminal and civil liability measures, holding manufacturers, suppliers, and professionals accountable when negligence leads to collapses. Legislation should impose substantial penalties, and whistleblower protection mechanisms should be in place. Additionally, SON must transition from theoretical standards to practical enforcement on the ground.

This includes mandatory certification for block producers, regular sampling and testing of materials, and stricter import controls. Local councils should also be tasked with licensing and inspecting block-moulding sites, publishing lists of certified producers, and revoking licenses for repeat offenders. Inspections should be comprehensive, including on-site reviews at foundational, lintel, and roof stages, with trained, equipped, and rotated inspectors to minimize corruption.

The use of digital permit platforms to publish inspection statuses can further enhance accountability.