In the early morning of May 27, 2025, Ikorodu, a bustling suburb in Lagos State, was once again thrown into chaos. A two-storey building under construction came crashing down, leaving behind debris, death, and yet another unanswered question: Why does this keep happening in Nigeria?
Nigeria’s deadly history of building collapses is not merely a tragedy—it’s an indictment of systemic failure.
In this piece, we take a deep dive into some of the most catastrophic collapses, explore their causes, and discuss why Nigeria seems locked in a never-ending loop of structural disasters.
A Troubling Legacy of Structural Failures
Nigeria has witnessed numerous building collapses over the decades, with Lagos bearing a significant share of these tragedies. Between 2012 and July 2024, Nigeria recorded over 22 building collapses, resulting in at least 33 deaths. In Lagos alone, over 91 buildings collapsed from 2012 to date, leading to the deaths of over 354 people.
The Building Collapse Prevention Guild reported a total of 635 building collapse cases in Nigeria between 1974 and November 5, 2024.
The May 27, 2025 Ikorodu Collapse: A Familiar Tragedy
LASEMA (Lagos State Emergency Management Agency) confirmed that the building collapsed in the early hours, killing at least three and trapping several workers. Witnesses say the structure had shown visible signs of weakness days earlier. No evacuation. No inspections. Just business as usual—until the walls came down.
Though investigations are ongoing, residents already know how this story ends: poor regulation, cheap materials, unqualified labor, and official neglect.
Not an Anomaly: A Chronicle of Catastrophes
Below is a timeline of some of the most fatal and high-profile building collapses in Nigeria’s modern history.
1. The Synagogue Church Guesthouse Collapse – September 12, 2014 (Lagos)
Casualties: 115 dead (84 South Africans)
Cause: Structural failure due to inadequate beams and poor engineering design.
Status: Church founder Late T.B. Joshua denied wrongdoing; legal proceedings dragged for years.
2. Lekki Five-Storey Collapse – March 8, 2016 (Lagos)
Casualties: 34 dead
Details: The building had been sealed by the Lagos government for violating planning permits—then mysteriously unsealed.
Cause: Illegally added floors, substandard materials.
3. Reigners Bible Church Collapse – December 10, 2016 (Uyo, Akwa Ibom)
Casualties: Estimated 23–160
Details: Roof caved in during a bishop’s consecration attended by top politicians.
Cause: Construction was rushed for the event.
4. Ita-Faaji School Collapse – March 13, 2019 (Lagos Island)
Casualties: 20 dead (majority were children)
Details: A school was operating illegally inside a residential building.
Cause: The building was already marked for demolition.
5. Ikoyi 21-Storey Luxury Tower Collapse – November 1, 2021 (Lagos)
Casualties: 45+ dead including developer Femi Osibona
Details: The luxury project violated height regulations.
Cause: Structural engineering failures, poor oversight.
6. Jos School Collapse – July 2024 (Plateau State)
Casualties: 22 students dead
Details: Students were writing exams when the structure gave way.
Cause: Poor foundation and neglected maintenance.
7) Abuja Two-Storey Collapse – March 2023 (Gwarinpa, FCT)
Casualties: At least 3 dead
Details: Building collapsed on site workers.
Cause: Developer ignored stop-work orders.
8) Ebute-Metta Building Collapse – May 1, 2022 (Lagos)
Casualties: 10+ dead
Cause: Overloaded structure, poor renovation.
9) Port Harcourt Hotel Collapse – November 2018 (GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers)
Casualties: 7 dead
Details: Hotel still under construction when it came crashing down.
Cause: Substandard materials.
10) Nnewi Church Collapse – 2012 (Anambra)
Casualties: 5 confirmed dead
Details: During church service at an unfinished worship center.
Cause: Unauthorized use of structure.
Deconstructing the Collapse: Why This Keeps Happening
1. Regulatory Rot
In Lagos alone, over 1,000 buildings are at risk of collapse. Building Control Agencies are often compromised by political interference. Developers flout rules, knowing enforcement is lax.
2. Cheap Labor, Cheaper Materials
A thriving black market for building materials means concrete is often mixed with inferior substitutes. Many “engineers” on-site lack any certification.
3. Urban Pressure
Nigeria’s exploding urban population has led to a demand for housing that far outpaces proper planning. Informal settlements are expanding vertically—often without professional oversight.
4. Negligent Ownership
Owners skip maintenance, landlords ignore visible cracks, and tenants live in fear. Many buildings marked for demolition continue being occupied or rented out.
5. No Consequences
Prosecutions are rare. Even in mass-casualty collapses, investigations are delayed, and victims’ families often get no closure.
Lives Lost, Lessons Ignored
Each collapse is a fresh national trauma—followed by a temporary outcry, a few arrests, maybe a panel. Then the dust settles, until the next building falls.
What these tragedies show is that Nigeria is not lacking knowledge—it is lacking the will to enforce what it knows.
What Must Be Done (And Fast)
1. Enforce Building Codes With Zero Tolerance
2. Blacklist Corrupt Developers and Engineers
3. Invest in Urban Planning Technology
4. Create a Real-Time Structural Integrity Database
5. Empower Whistleblowers Within Building Agencies
Rebuilding More Than Structures
Nigeria must move beyond reactionary outrage. Reform must be systemic, visible, and swift. Regulatory bodies must be staffed by professionals, builders must fear jail time. Lives must matter more than profit.
In a nation of over 200 million people, buildings should be shelters, not coffins. Safety must not be optional. Otherwise, the country will continue to build on cracked foundations—until nothing stands.
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