Nigeria records 461 buildings collapse, 1,090 deaths in 44yrs-Falana

No fewer than 461 building collapsed incidents in which 1,090 people died and hundreds of others suffered injuries, says rights activist, Femi Falana.

Falana disclosed this in his address at 2021 Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) held in Lagos.

According to him, due to ignorance, the victims and the family members of those who lost their lives did not sue the owners of the collapsed buildings with a view to compelling them to pay compensation for their negligence, adding that the Lagos State Ministry of Urban Development and Planning has approved the construction of tank farms in the Satellite Town in total defiance of the master plan of the area.

“To pave way for the operations of the tank farms ministry has concluded arrangements to demolish a number of houses with approved buildings plans and valid title documents. Meanwhile, the owners of the tank farms have not been asked to show evidence of compliance with the Lagos State Building Control Regulations 2019.

“The plea of the law-abiding residents of the Satellite Town whose houses have been marked for demolition has fallen on the deaf ears of the relevant officials of the state government. It is high time the NIOB intervened to arrest the imminent disaster,” he added.