Nigeria has experienced approximately 604 building collapses from 1974 to May 30, 2024, with Lagos accounting for 57.28% of these incidents, News About Nigeria reports.
The report pointed out that Lagos State has been the most affected, accounting for 57.28% of these incidents.
According to the latest report from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), over 346 buildings collapsed in Lagos in the past 50 years.
“Building collapses in Nigeria have been a significant issue over the years, with Lagos State accounting for 57.28 percent of recorded incidents. This makes Lagos the most affected state, followed by Anambra with 3.98 percent, Abuja with 3.65 percent, and Oyo with 3.48 percent,” the report stated.
The report also noted that Taraba, Bayelsa, Gombe, and Yobe States reported their first recorded building collapses in 2022.
Other states such as Zamfara, Taraba, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Sokoto, Gombe, Katsina, and Kebbi have each experienced only one recorded building collapse.
Significantly, there were no recorded building collapses in the years 1971, 1975, and 1981.
Despite the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Nigeria still recorded 45 building collapses, with Lagos accounting for 18 of these incidents, representing 40% of the total.
“The year 2022 saw the highest number of building collapses, with 62 incidents nationwide, and Lagos accounted for 20, or 32 percent. In 2023, there were 52 recorded collapses across the country, with Lagos again leading with 17 incidents, representing 33 percent. As of 2024, there have been 11 recorded building collapses, with Lagos having 5, Anambra having 3, and Kano, Niger, and Plateau having 1 each,” the report mentioned.
The first recorded building collapse in Nigeria occurred in October 1974 in Oyo State, involving a multi-storey building that collapsed due to excessive loading, resulting in the death of 27 people.
The tallest building collapse happened in Lagos on November 1, 2021, which tragically killed 52 people.
