Lagos' Building Collapse Epidemic: Who Is to Blame?

Yet again, Lagos has witnessed another devastating building collapse—this time in Lekki Phase 1, where a three-story building under construction crumbled, leaving four dead and at least 15 injured. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, pulling survivors from the rubble and transporting them to hospitals. The exact cause remains unknown, but poor construction quality and regulatory failures are the usual suspects.

Building collapses in Lagos have become disturbingly frequent. Reports indicate that over 115 buildings have fallen in the past decade, making Lagos the building-collapse capital of Nigeria. Weak enforcement of regulations, use of substandard materials, and corrupt practices allow these disasters to continue. While authorities claim to be investigating, past incidents—including the 2021 Ikoyi high-rise collapse that killed 45 people—have led to no real accountability.

Experts argue that Lagos needs thousands of trained building inspectors—not just 300 for a city of 20 million. Without strict enforcement, severe penalties, and a shift from profit-driven shortcuts to safety-first construction, collapses will persist. The lack of prosecutions only fuels impunity, allowing contractors and officials to avoid responsibility. Until meaningful reforms are implemented, Lagos residents will continue to live in fear—and construction workers will keep paying the price with their lives.

Watch more information on the tragic collapse on the following video.