REDAN seeks tougher regulations, criminal charges over building collapses

The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has called for stricter building regulations and the criminal prosecution of those responsible for substandard construction following two separate building collapses in Rivers and Lagos states within 48 hours.

The first incident occurred on Wednesday when a five-storey building under construction collapsed along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Less than 24 hours later, a three-storey shopping complex caved in in the Alakija area of Lagos State, leaving several people dead, injured and trapped beneath the rubble.

Reacting to the incidents, Chairman of REDAN’s Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Tony Aspire Kolawole, described the recurring collapses as preventable tragedies caused by negligence, weak regulatory enforcement and corruption within the construction sector.

“Buildings do not collapse by accident,” Kolawole said. “They collapse because corners are cut, approvals are compromised, and inspections are ignored or bypassed. Every collapsed building reflects human failure, not fate.”

Kolawole argued that the demolition of defective buildings alone is insufficient to address the problem, insisting that individuals responsible for violating building regulations should face criminal prosecution.

“Demolition without prosecution is not deterrence,” he said, urging state governments to prosecute negligent developers, contractors, consultants and any public officials found complicit in approving or overlooking unsafe construction practices.

REDAN also called on state building control agencies, including the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), to intensify structural integrity inspections, particularly on ageing buildings and heavily modified structures in densely populated residential and commercial areas.

The association further urged state legislatures to review existing building control laws, close regulatory loopholes and introduce tougher penalties for violations. It also appealed to professionals in the construction industry to uphold ethical standards and reject substandard practices.

“Our duty as professionals is to provide safe shelter, not death traps,” Kolawole stated.

As part of its advisory to the public, REDAN urged prospective homebuyers, investors and tenants to conduct proper due diligence before purchasing or occupying buildings. The association advised members of the public to verify approved building plans, structural integrity reports and the professional credentials of developers and consultants before committing funds.

Expressing condolences to families affected by the two building collapses, REDAN said Nigeria must move beyond reactive responses and adopt stronger legal and regulatory measures to prevent future disasters.

The association maintained that holding offenders accountable through the courts would serve as a stronger deterrent and help restore public confidence in the country’s real estate and construction sector.