On Wednesday, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, inaugurated an expanded Ministerial Task Team to tackle the rising incidents of building collapses across Nigeria, describing the trend as a national concern.
During the inauguration, Dangiwa stated, “the frequent building collapses are unacceptable, causing loss of lives, injuries, and property damage.”
He noted that a prior committee, chaired by Architect Maji Liberty Alkali, had investigated the issue and submitted 18 recommendations.
“To ensure these recommendations are effectively implemented, I directed the expansion of the committee to include key regulatory and professional bodies in the building sector,” Dangiwa explained.
He identified poor designs, substandard materials, inadequate supervision, and lack of proper approvals as major causes of collapses, stressing the need for collaboration among architects, engineers, surveyors, builders, town planners, and estate valuers to prevent future incidents.
The task team is charged with advising the government on implementing the recommendations, developing a roadmap to address structural and regulatory challenges, establishing a compliance framework, and proposing legislation to enhance federal oversight.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, emphasized that the committee’s diverse membership reflects the government’s commitment to tackling the issue comprehensively.
