REAL ESTATE STAKEHOLDERS SOUND ALARM OVER BUILDING COLLAPSES IN LAGOS, CALL FOR URGENT INDUSTRY REFORMS

Newslens NG reports that leading experts and stakeholders in Nigeria’s real estate and urban development sectors have raised fresh concerns over the persistent spate of building collapses in Lagos, calling for urgent regulatory reforms and improved construction practices to address the crisis.

The alarm was sounded at the Professor Leke Oduwaye–Adron Homes Urban Development Dialogue, held at the University of Lagos and jointly organized by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP), UNILAG, and real estate firm, Adron Homes. The high-level forum convened professionals, government officials, academics, and industry leaders to dissect the systemic failures driving repeated structural failures in Nigeria’s most populous city.

With the theme, “Recurring Building Collapse in Lagos: The Challenge of Regulatory Oversight and Construction Practices,” the dialogue spotlighted the need for enhanced enforcement mechanisms, professional accountability, and stronger collaboration across regulatory institutions.

Delivering his goodwill message, Group Chairman of Adron Group, Sir Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing, KOF, decried the frequency of building collapses, describing them as preventable tragedies born from negligence and institutional decay.

> “Buildings do not collapse by accident. They collapse because at some point in the chain, whether in planning, approval, construction, or supervision someone compromises,” he stated.

Aare EmmanuelKing called for the implementation of what he described as the “Three Pillars” of reform: Verification, Validation, and Control, insisting that every player in the construction value chain must be held to the highest standards of competence and ethical responsibility.

A keynote lecture delivered by Tpl. (Dr.) Idris Salako FNITP, former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, provided a comprehensive overview of the root causes of structural failures. Dr. Salako cited poor enforcement of development control regulations, inter-agency disjointedness, and rampant non-compliance with approved plans as key issues undermining structural integrity in the state.

He also pointed to deeper systemic issues, including political interference, corruption, and the widespread use of unqualified personnel. He called for the full digitalization of the building approval process, capacity building within regulatory agencies, and formal certification for artisans to ensure safer practices on construction sites.

Other keynote speakers included Tpl. Tunji Odunlami FNITP, Ogun State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, and Professor Ayo Omotayo, Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru. Both emphasized the importance of integrated urban planning, stakeholder collaboration, and regulatory reforms in fostering sustainable and resilient cities.

Notable attendees included Tpl. Waheed Kadiri FNITP, PPNITP, former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (who chaired the event); Professor Modupe Omirin, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, UNILAG; Dr. Taofik Salau, Head of DURP, UNILAG; and Dr. S.A. Adeyemi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee.

Participants unanimously called for an urgent overhaul of current practices within the building industry, stressing the importance of professionalism, transparency, and strict enforcement of building codes to prevent further loss of lives and property.

The dialogue is expected to stimulate strategic policy actions and renewed commitment among regulators, developers, and policymakers to ensure that Lagos and Nigeria at large develops safer, more sustainable urban environments where lives are safeguarded and communities can thrive.