An Empirical Ascertainment of the Causes of Building Failure and Collapse in Nigeria

Abstract

The incessant of building failure and collapse in the recent past has become a source of national concern and
embarrassment in Nigeria. News reports of such incidents are frequently reported in the country by both the print and electronic
media. In 2006 alone, no fewer than thirteen of such cases were recorded in Lagos State alone while statistics of the previous
and subsequent years were not better off either. This study was set out to empirically ascertain the causes of such building
failure and collapse from the perspectives of the stakeholders (comprising of the professionals in the building industry,
contractors and house owners/developers) with a view to proffering appropriate recommendations to guide against future
occurrence. Lagos State was chosen as the case study based on the frequency of occurrence building collapse in the state. To
achieve the objective of the study, questionnaires were randomly administered on the professional Estate Surveyors and
Valuers, Architects, Town Planners, Quantity Surveyors, Engineers (Structural and Civil), building contractors and
Landlords/developers in the study area to seek their opinion on their perceived causes of building collapse. The study identified
the use of sub-standard building materials, poor workmanship by contractors, use of incompetent contractors, faulty construction
methodology, heavy downpour, non compliance with specifications/standards by developers/contractors, inadequate/lack of
supervision/inspection/monitoring, structural defects, defective design/structure, illegal conversion/alterations/additions to
existing structures and dilapidating structures as the major causes of building collapse in Lagos State nay Nigeria. The study
recommends education of all the stakeholders including the professionals in the building industry and landlords/developers on
the inherent dangers of building collapse and the need to be safety conscious while building houses.