Buildings collapse in Nigeria

There are multiple reasons why buildings collapse in Lagos, several of which are tied to regulatory, technical, and human‐factors. Here are some of the key causes, based on research and reports:

Main Causes of Building Collapses in Lagos

1. Poor / Weak Regulation & Enforcement

Many buildings are built without proper planning permits, or construction deviates from what was approved. 

Regulatory bodies often lack enough manpower, equipment, or reach to effectively monitor all building projects. 

Corruption is often cited: sometimes developers bribe officials to approve substandard plans or ignore violations. 

2. Use of Substandard Materials

Builders sometimes use materials that don’t meet required standards (weak steel, low‐quality concrete, poor blocks, etc.) to cut costs. 

Sometimes materials in the market are counterfeit or fake – e.g. steel rods with less dimension than required. 

3. Poor Design, or No Proper Soil/Foundation Assessment

Some buildings are erected on weak or swampy soil, or in areas where soil bearing capacity wasn’t properly studied. Foundations may be inadequate. 

Designs may be flawed, or the structural load (weight the building must carry) is underestimated or exceeded (due to extra floors added illegally). 

4. Owner/Developer Cutting Corners

To save cost, or due to urgency, corners may be cut: using less steel, weaker mix of concrete, under‐specifying materials, using unskilled labour. 

Sometimes owners add extra floors beyond what was approved, or convert the structure to a use (e.g., school, office) that adds load not anticipated in design. 

5. Inadequate Monitoring / Supervision

Even when plans are properly approved and designed, supervision during construction is often weak. Some contractors don’t follow designs or specifications. 

Post‐construction, many buildings lack maintenance. Cracks, water ingress, defective structural elements accumulate damage until a collapse happens. 

6. Demand / Pressure & Urban Growth

Lagos is growing fast, and there’s huge demand for housing, commercial buildings, etc. This puts pressure on land, pushes some to build where they shouldn’t, or to build faster than quality allows. 

Land scarcity causes buildings to be built in risky zones (near swamps, unstable ground). 

7. Leadership / Institutional Failures

Where there is lack of political will to enforce laws or sanction erring developers. 

Responsibility gaps: sometimes plans or laws exist, but nobody ensures they are followed.