Forestalling Building Collapse in Nigeria: Imperative of Legislative Intervention

Abstract

Nigeria's real estate industry is one of the most vibrant sectors in the country. Indeed, the industry has grown in recent years, enabling many investors to diversify and build their portfolios. Despite the sector's vibrancy, frequent building collapse has become an enormous challenge. It is estimated that from 2010 to 2020, forty-eight buildings have collapsed in Nigerian urban cities, with about a 77% rise from the previous decade. Experts point to incompetence and corruption, flouting of building codes, use of fake and substandard building materials and negligence as reasons behind frequent building collapse in Nigeria. Though the challenge of building collapse is not peculiar to Nigeria, the frequency and circumstance of each collapse also indicate a vacuum in the regulation of the sector and an inadequate legal framework.