By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has resolved to probe causes of the incessant building collapse in Nigeria and proffer lasting solutions to curb the menace..
This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the, “Need to Investigate the Menace of Incessant Building Collapse in Nigeria” by Rep. Aderemi Oseni.
Debating the motion, Rep. Oseni highlighted that the government’s primary responsibility is to protect citizens’ lives and properties, but the recurring building collapse cases in major Nigerian cities have become a significant concern.
He also noted that on July 12, this year, 154 people were trapped under debris in Saint Academy’s two-story building in Busa Buji community, Jos, Plateau State, with 22 deaths reported.
The lawmaker expressed concerned that media report indicates that Nigeria experienced 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024, thereby causing concern and highlighting the need for urgent action.
According to Oseni, if nothing was done to urgently combat this emergency, more lives and properties will be lost and destroyed, leading to a devastating impact on communities and the economy.
He further said that he was conscious of the fact that the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and other professional associations involved in building-related issues are tasked with enforcing regulations and controlling the engineering profession in order to prevent established industry best practices from being compromised.
The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated its Committees on Works, Environment, Housing and Safety Standards to probe the incessant collapse of buildings in the country and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
