Building or housing is the most fundamental need for humankind. Building means a construction that has the objective of providing sheltering cover and minimizing emissions of noise, particulate matter, odour and litter. It shelters us and when we hear the building word, we imagine that a building is tall, has a roof, walls, rooms, etc. A building is structurally constructive based on bricks, sands, types of cement, water, concrete, metal, etc. With increasing technology and an understanding of how materials behave, buildings have come to be constructed with ever greater height and span and for innumerable agricultural, civic, commercial, industrial, recreational, religious, and residential uses. A building aims to give shelter along with security. Buildings serve several needs of society primarily as shelter from the weather, security, living space, privacy, to store belongings, supplied electricity, and to comfortably live and work.

Before ever an investor or a developer thinks of erecting a building, there are factors to be put into consideration like the quality, budget, right raw material for the correct type of location, no compromise with building materials, legalities & documentation. When any of these factors is neglected, then there is bound to be misfortune, inconveniences or regrets.

Building a structure is a complex and multifaceted process involving many professions and trades. From planning and design to construction and project management, each stage requires specific skills and expertise to ensure the building is safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. Starting with Land Surveyors, Architects, Civil Engineers, Bricklayers and Masons, Welders and Metal Fabricators, Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers, Painters, etc. Some buildings would even require project managers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, etc.

Several factors contribute to making a building strong, stable and safe: Foundation, Structural Design, Materials, Construction Quality, Load-Bearing Walls and Columns, Reinforcement, Electrical and Plumbing Safety, Maintenance, Compliance with Building Codes and Regulations etc. By taking these factors into account during the design, construction, and maintenance phases, a building can be made resilient, stable, and safe for its occupants. Other things as high quality materials, weather-resistant design, regular maintenance, resilience to environmental factors, impact resilience, compliance with standards, etc. will ensure durability.

Adhering to building codes and standards is critical to creating buildings that are safe, structurally sound, and able to withstand environmental factors and potential hazards.

Furthermore, the history of collapsed buildings in Nigeria started in 1974 and increased as the years went by. There were over 112 incidents of building collapse in Lagos alone between December 1978 and April 2008 (Chinwokwu, 2000). In the year 2006, there was a building collapse in Surulere, Lagos which claimed 28 lives and left 50 others severely injured. There was other building collapse in other parts of the country as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Anambra, Enugu, Akure, etc. but Lagos usually had more devastating cases. On December 10, 2016, a church collapsed in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, killing over 200 people. In November 1, 2021, a 21-storey building in Ikoyi collapsed leaving survivors trapped in the rubble. VOA (African edition) announced on Sept. 13, 2014, that building collapses are common in Nigeria; where millions live in dilapidated structures and construction standards are often flouted. The Ebute-Metta area building collapse had 8 dead bodies while 23 others were rescued with various degrees of injuries. Wikipedia has it that on 8 March 2016, a five-storey building collapsed while under construction in Lekki District, Lagos. At least 34 people were killed, 13 other people were pulled from the collapsed building alive in a rescue operation. A report from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, an advocacy group of building professionals, showed that Lagos had the highest figure, accounting for 41.53% of the total number of collapsed buildings.

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory, Lagos State Safety Commission, LSTML and so many agencies of government are doing only what could be obtainable in the present-day Nigeria or what could be referred to as “Nigerian Factor”. Recently, a three storey building collapsed at DMGS, a returned school in Onitsha, Anambra State and most of the reactions we get is prayers and unknown cause.

Experts have always attributed the causes of incessant collapse to substandard materials, pilfering, faulty non-adherence to designs, lack of comprehensive subsoil investigation before designs are done, illegal conversion or alteration to existing structures, and use of quacks or unskilled builders. Others point at factors which include negligence, lousy design, faulty construction, flouting of building design, extraordinary load, failure of foundation, nature disasters, soil liquefaction, demolition by explosives, use of defective and substandard materials, incompetence and corruption. It may be the result of violent attacks, infrastructure failures or natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms, wildfires, landslides, tornadoes or mudslides.

Unfortunately, most of the building collapses in Nigeria are preventable. Inadequate oversight, corruption and economic factors are the major issues.

Nigerian government is not ready to learn from the consequences of each building collapse. Are there policies and regulation related to construction and safety standards? Yes! Is the government effective in her enforcement with the challenges? No. Government officials are more interested in bribery, corruption and sharp practices.

Each collapse carries along with it tremendous effects that cannot be easily forgotten by any of its victim. These include loss of human lives, economic wastage in terms of loss of properties, jobs, incomes, loss of trust, dignity, and exasperation of crises among the stakeholders and environmental disaster.

Stakeholders like developers, contractors, professionals from BCPG comprising of Nigerian Institute of Architect (NIA), Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigerian Institute of Estate of Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Nigerian Institute Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS), COREN are all powerless without the cooperation of government. The solution lies with a sensitive and responsible government.

The public and professional bodies in the building sector will be more active when the government has taken the first step in assessment, inspection, maintenance evaluation, technological approach in ensuring stable, safe and standard buildings.

Building and provision of safe and affordable homes are major contributors to sustainable development and through the centuries, these have been important aspects of the socio-economic development of humans.

The society we abuse today will take revenge on us tomorrow.

•Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu writes from Awgbu.