Built environment professionals, legal practitioners and regulators have called for stronger legislation, independent enforcement and digital tracking of construction projects to make Nigeria’s National Building Code enforceable and prevent recurring building collapses.
The call was made at the fifth annual memorial webinar of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Ikoyi-Obalende Cell, held on Sunday, November 1, 2026, to commemorate the anniversary of the building collapse on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, on November 1, 2021.
The webinar, themed “Making the National Building Code Enforceable to Enhance Safety in the Nigerian Built Environment”, examined gaps in legislation, institutional coordination, inspections, technical compliance and professional accountability. Participants also acknowledged existing government interventions aimed at improving building safety.
In his welcome address, the General Secretary of BCPG Ikoyi-Obalende Cell, Quantity Surveyor Bola Adeyera, led participants in a moment of silence for victims of building collapses across the country.
He emphasised the need for effective enforcement, professional accountability and a culture of compliance within the built environment.
Adeyera also acknowledged the contributions of the cell’s past coordinators, Engineer Nnamdi Agbim and Quantity Surveyor Tomi Ogundare, as well as the current Coordinator, Architect Bola Arilesere. He commended members drawn from seven built environment professional associations for their commitment to building safety.
Calls for stronger legislation and digital monitoring
One of the discussants, James Sonde, Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, and Chairman of its Human Rights Committee, called for clear statutory responsibilities, inspection powers, sanctions and legal remedies.
He advocated national minimum standards, constitutionally appropriate implementation by state governments, continuous inspections, clearly defined institutional responsibilities and access to justice in accordance with due process.
The Third Vice-President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Architect David Majekodunmi, proposed a lifecycle approach to building safety, supported by coordinated institutions and digital monitoring.
He recommended the introduction of a Digital Building Safety Passport, a National Digital Building Information Registry and a National Building Safety and Compliance Platform.
According to him, interoperable digital systems, coordinated design reviews and emerging technologies would improve monitoring and strengthen accountability throughout the construction process.
Similarly, the President of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, Engineer Dr Taiwo Elegba, stressed the importance of proper soil investigations, competent structural designs, tested building materials, quality workmanship and documented supervision.
He called for approved procedures for building alterations, independent checks for high-risk structures, professional verification, peer reviews, continuous training and a national database of building failures.
Elegba also advocated regular assessments of distressed buildings and acknowledged the Lagos State Building Control Agency’s Construction Stage Inspection Certification as an existing measure to improve compliance.
Former NBA Chairman and Vice-President, Dr Monday O. Ubani, SAN, who also chairs the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), called for enforceable legislation, staged inspections, professional accountability and digital compliance records.
He also recommended risk-based oversight, independent regulatory institutions, completion certification, regular building maintenance and protection for members of the public who report safety concerns.
Citing Ogun State’s adoption of the National Building Code, Ubani called on other states and the Federal Capital Territory to follow suit. He stressed the need for adequate funding, implementation deadlines and independent monitoring.
Another discussant, Engineer Elias O. Agbabiaka, a Chartered Civil and Structural Engineer and Principal of Famas Global Consulting, advocated verified professional competence, honest certification, transparent procurement processes and the use of approved building materials.
He also called for proper documentation of construction activities and strict controls over substitutions of specified materials.
Citing BCPG data, Agbabiaka reported that Nigeria recorded 843 building collapses between October 1971 and October 10, 2026, with Lagos accounting for 56.6 per cent of the incidents.
He urged built environment professionals to resist pressure to approve unsafe construction practices through proper verification, documentation, escalation of concerns and corrective action.
Agbabiaka further advocated the use of quality building materials on construction sites and verification of materials by the Lagos State Building Material Testing Laboratory to improve the safety and durability of building and civil engineering projects.
Government interventions and regulatory responsibilities
The webinar also recognised measures introduced by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, including the expansion of the Ministerial Task Team on Building Collapse and the establishment of the National Building Code Advisory Committee.
Sonde highlighted Lagos State’s 2010 planning and development law and its 2019 building-control and planning-permit regulations as part of the state’s regulatory framework.
Agbabiaka explained the different responsibilities of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
He noted that LASPPPA handles planning permits, while LASBCA is responsible for building commencement, inspections and completion certification. He also acknowledged the oversight role of the Lagos State Safety Commission.
Ubani cited Ogun State’s adoption of the National Building Code but stressed that adoption alone would not guarantee safety without effective implementation.
Moderator calls for proper planning and professional verification
The webinar was moderated by Town Planner (Mrs) Risikat B. Bello, a retired Director of Town Planning Services in Lagos State with more than 34 years of public service experience.
Bello, who is the pioneer National Chairman of the Association of Women Town Planners of Nigeria and Immediate Past National Chairman of the NITP Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, emphasised the importance of appropriate land use, site suitability and approved building plans.
She highlighted the existing Lagos Electronic Planning Permit System (Lagos-EPPPS) and advocated professional verification within the Certified Accreditors Programmes (CAP) framework.
She also called for integrated records covering planning permits, inspections and completion certification to strengthen regulatory coordination.
Engineer Dr Elegba supported her contribution, reinforcing the need for proper planning and technical compliance throughout the construction process.
The discussions concluded with a broad call for stronger laws, effective regulatory coordination, independent inspections and greater professional accountability to reduce building failures and improve safety across Nigeria’s built environment.
