Kehinde Fajobi
The House of Representatives has mandated an investigation into the rising number of building collapses in Nigeria.
This directive was issued on Wednesday to the Committees on Works, Environment, Housing, and Safety Standards, following a motion sponsored by Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State.
Oseni’s motion, titled “Need to Investigate the Menace of Incessant Building Collapse in Nigeria,” highlighted the government’s responsibility to protect citizens’ lives and property.
He pointed out that the frequent collapse of buildings in major cities has become a significant concern.
During the plenary, Oseni referred to the collapse of a two-storey building at Saint Academy in Jos, Plateau State, on July 12, 2024, which left 154 people trapped and claimed 22 lives.
Citing The PUNCH, he added that 135 building collapses occurred between 2022 and July 2024.
“If nothing is done to urgently combat this emergency, more lives and property will be lost and destroyed, leading to a devastating impact on communities and the economy,” Oseni said.
The lawmaker also called attention to the role of the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and other professional bodies in enforcing building regulations to prevent such tragedies.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the Committee on Works to investigate the causes of the collapses, propose solutions, and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.