The House of Representatives on Wednesday unveiled plans to investigate the menace of incessant building collapses across the country.
The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Aderemi Oseni, who sought the House’s intervention.
In his lead debate, Hon. Oseni emphasized that the government’s primary responsibility is to protect citizens’ lives and properties. He lamented that the “recurring cases of building collapses in major Nigerian cities have become a significant concern.”
“The House also notes that on July 12, 2024, 154 people were trapped under debris in Saint Academy’s two-storey building in Busa Buji community, Jos, Plateau State, with 22 deaths reported.
“The House is concerned that, according to the Punch Newspaper of July 15, 2024, Nigeria experienced 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024, raising serious alarm and highlighting the need for urgent action.
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“The House is aware that if nothing is done to urgently address this emergency, more lives will be lost, and properties destroyed, leading to a devastating impact on communities and the economy.
“The House recognizes that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other professional associations involved in building-related matters are tasked with enforcing regulations and controlling the engineering profession to prevent compromises on established industry best practices,” he noted.
To this end, the House mandated its Committees on Works, Environment, Housing, and Safety Standards to ascertain the causes of the incessant building collapses and propose lasting solutions to curb the menace, with a report due within four weeks for further legislative action.
