…demands criminal prosecution

Chairman of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Lagos Chapter, Dr. Tony Aspire Kolawole, has blamed what he described as regulatory compromise, weak enforcement and government failure for the recurring cases of building collapse across the country.

Kolawole spoke against the backdrop of the collapse of a five-storey building in Rivers State on June 24 and another three-storey building in the Alakija area of Lagos on Thursday, saying the tragedies were avoidable and should no longer be dismissed as mere accidents.

According to him, innocent Nigerians are dying because building regulations are routinely compromised while those responsible are hardly held accountable.

“Buildings do not collapse by accident,” he said. “They collapse because people deliberately cut corners, use substandard materials, manipulate approvals, ignore professional advice and evade statutory inspections. Every collapsed building is evidence of negligence, not fate.”

He warned that unless governments at all levels abandon what he described as “a culture of reaction without accountability,” the country would continue to witness avoidable disasters.

Kolawole called on the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and other building control agencies across the country to immediately intensify structural integrity inspections, especially in densely populated residential areas where defective buildings pose serious danger to lives and property.

He also urged state governments to ensure the criminal prosecution of developers, contractors, consultants, property owners and public officials found guilty of violating building regulations.

According to him, demolishing defective structures without prosecuting those responsible only encourages impunity.

“Demolition alone is not enough. Those responsible must face the law. Until developers and officials whose negligence leads to these disasters are prosecuted and convicted, others will continue to gamble with human lives,” he stated.

The REDAN Lagos Chairman also called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to strengthen the state’s building control laws by introducing stiffer sanctions for offenders, tightening legislative oversight and eliminating loopholes that encourage non-compliance.

He said lawmakers have a critical role to play in ensuring that regulatory institutions are empowered to effectively enforce building standards.

Kolawole further challenged real estate developers and other professionals in the built environment to uphold ethical standards, warning that every compromised project represents a potential disaster waiting to happen.

“Our responsibility is to provide safe shelter, not death traps. Every professional who knowingly compromises standards is endangering lives and bringing the industry into disrepute,” he said.

He advised Nigerians intending to buy or rent property to always demand approved building plans, structural integrity certifications and evidence of the developer’s professional credentials before making any commitment.

While noting that REDAN had repeatedly advocated stronger regulation, mandatory certification of developers and reforms in the building approval process, he said the latest incidents should serve as a wake-up call for governments, regulators and industry stakeholders.

“The era of endless talk must end. Advocacy must now give way to decisive action. Every institution connected with building regulation must rise to its responsibility before more innocent Nigerians lose their lives,” he added.

Kolawole expressed sympathy with families of the victims, prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured and appealed to emergency responders to sustain rescue efforts for persons still trapped beneath the collapsed structures.

He stressed that the latest incidents underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms, stricter enforcement of building regulations and greater accountability within Nigeria’s construction and real estate sectors.