Lekki building collapse: BCPG blames recurrence on lack of official investigation

The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) Lekki Cell has blamed the collapse of buildings in Lekki in quick succession on lack of official investigation of the causes.

The guild, a coalition of professionals in the built-environment, said the inability of the government to implement recommendations of the investigation panel has led to repeated collapse of buildings, especially those under construction in Lekki.

Stressing that lack of consequence begets impunity, BCPG Lekki Cell, in a statement jointly signed by its Coordinator, Wunmi Agbaje, and General Secretary, Godfrey C. Godfrey, stated that such inaction on the part of the government could be interpreted as a deliberate protection of culpable individuals.

According to the group, on Tuesday, January 28, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) announced the collapse of a two-storey building under construction at the gated Northern Foreshore Estate, Off Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos State, leading to the death of two persons.

“On the same day, a three- storey building under construction collapsed at Mega Mall Estate, Mobil Road, Inikpa, Ikota, Lekki, killing two persons, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“Rescue operations with the aid of heavy-duty plant and equipment dismantled and compressed the carcass, thereby destroying part of evidence required for investigations.

“On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, a four-storey building under construction collapsed at Oriwu Street, Lekki Phase One, resulting in the deaths of four persons, while many people were injured.

“Members of the BCPG Lekki Cell, who paid a technical visit to the site, based on empirical observation and information garnered on the grapevine, saw the urgent need to investigate this collapsed building.

“However, the hope of getting the government to investigate this collapse might be dim drawing from the experience of the neighbouring BCPG Iru- Victoria Island Cell when a nine – storey building under construction collapsed at Prince Idowu Abiodun Road, Oniru, Victoria Island Extension on Sunday, September 9, 2022.”

“Four persons were killed in that calamitous building collapse. All documented efforts by the BCPG to ensure that the collapsed building was investigated by the government did not yield success,” it said.

A similar perturbing experience, the guild said was encountered in that same Local Council when a five-storey building under construction collapsed at 4.25 pm on Monday, November 4, 2013, within the premises of Iru- Victoria Island Eti Osa Local Council Development Area along Muri Okunola Street.

At a meeting held with the then chairman of the Council, Hon. Abayomi Daramola, on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, the BCPG leadership advised the government to conduct a post-mortem analysis or investigations with the intention to establish the scientific-based reasons the building collapsed.

“There was also the debate on the punishment to be meted out to the local government over the collapsed building. Would the local government accept to forfeit its land to the Lagos State Government in accordance with the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2010. Specifically, Section 74 (same as in the Reviewed LASBCA Regulations of 2019. Section 25, sub-section 4). There was neither official investigation nor forfeiture of land.

“Such inaction on the part of the government could be interpreted as a deliberate protection of culpable individuals.” According to the guild, it is pertinent to reiterate that unravelling the cause(s) of a building collapse and implementing the recommendations will help prevent future building collapse of similar nature.

“Moreover, the law requires an investigation of a collapsed building before the land can be confiscated by the government.” In the light of the foregoing, the guild appealed to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensure that the relevant aspects of the laws of the state that can help reduce the incessant collapse of buildings and save lives are implemented.

Members of BCPG Lekki Cell also expressed plans to embark on a voluntary tour around Lekki Peninsula to find out the current state/use of the collapsed building lands that ought to have been forfeited to the government and to make the outcome public.

“Courageous professionals with unquestionable integrity who are willing to witness this exercise should not hesitate to reach out to us.
“The need to ensure that housing development is not meant for every Tom, Dick and Harry cannot be overemphasised.

“The real estate sector needs to be well regulated. Those who want to engage in the housing business should endeavour to join the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) for induction and training in the ethics and acceptable practices of housing business,” the guild added.