47 Building Collapses Recorded Across 14 States in 2024- BCPG
A report by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has revealed that 47 building collapses occurred across 14 states in Nigeria in 2024, with Lagos State accounting for the highest number of incidents.
According to the report, Lagos led with 13 collapses, followed by Abuja with six, Anambra with five, and Kano and Rivers with four each. Other states such as Jigawa and Plateau recorded three collapses each, while Osun and Delta witnessed two incidents each. States like Niger, Abia, Edo, Oyo, and Ebonyi recorded one collapse each during the year.
Cumulatively, the report noted a total of 640 building collapses nationwide from October 1974 to January 9, 2025. Lagos State accounted for 55.15% of these incidents, far exceeding other states.
The report highlighted notable trends, including Lagos’ persistent lead in building collapse cases. For example, in 2022, Nigeria recorded 62 collapses, with Lagos accounting for 32% (20 incidents). In 2023, the nation saw 52 collapses, with Lagos contributing 33% (17 incidents).
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The first documented building collapse in Nigeria occurred in October 1974 in Oyo State, involving a multi-storey structure that collapsed due to excessive loading, resulting in 27 fatalities. The deadliest collapse of a tall building was recorded on November 1, 2021, in Lagos, claiming 52 lives.
The BCPG also noted that Taraba, Bayelsa, Gombe, and Yobe recorded their first building collapses in 2022. While some states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Katsina have had minimal incidents, Lagos consistently accounts for the majority of collapses in the country.
The guild called for stricter enforcement of building codes and increased awareness of construction standards to curb these incidents and safeguard lives and properties.
