The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has raised serious concerns about the growing number of building collapses across Nigeria, emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement of building codes.
In response to the increasing crisis, the ministry assured the public that punitive measures would soon be imposed on those who flout these regulations.
This information came on Monday from the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Mohammed Bala, during the opening of the five-day 13th National Council on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development meeting in Gombe.
The theme for 2024 event, ‘Housing the Future: Affordable Housing for Economic Growth, Climate Resilience, and Urban Development’, reflected the government’s commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges within the housing sector.
Bala highlighted ongoing efforts to address the devastating impact of building collapses on human lives, noting that the Federal Government was actively working to minimize such incidents.
He stressed that the council, which serves as the highest body in policy-making for lands, housing, and urban development in Nigeria, had taken decisive action.
“We had asked for memos to be submitted three months ago regarding concerns around housing development in the country. We received responses from over 60 organizations on various topics based on the themes we provided to them to help resolve or improve issues in the housing sector. We identified eight areas for discussion,” Bala said.
The Director expressed deep concern about the frequency of building collapses, which often result in not just significant property damage, but tragic loss of life and injuries.
He pointed out, “Housing and building collapse is not just about the house but about the lives of the people. If you care about the lives of the people, you must consider the issue of collapse. I have never seen instances where buildings collapse without loss of property, lives, or injuries.”
Bala emphasized the gravity of the situation, underlining that the problem was far-reaching and required urgent attention.
“The problem of building collapse is very serious. Mr. President has strongly addressed the issue, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, even set up a committee on building codes. They have made presentations, and in our programme, we have two sessions dedicated to building collapse. Experts have been invited to make presentations on the issue. It will be deliberated, discussed, and reviewed, and policies will be implemented to affect the entire country.”
He also provided a stark reminder of the many recent incidents that have occurred in major Nigerian cities.
“In 2023 and 2024, we had incidents in Jos, Lagos, and Abuja. Many buildings have collapsed, some of which were reported by the media. However, this is happening every day, often due to natural causes, failure to adhere to building codes, and the use of substandard products. The Federal Government is working to resolve this and minimize such incidents,” he noted.
Further emphasizing the need for accountability, Bala pointed to the recent establishment of a housing tribunal, an initiative welcomed by the Honourable Minister.“The Honourable Minister has emphasised sanctions at every meeting. Recently, a tribunal was inaugurated for housing, and the Minister expressed his satisfaction with this. He said that no one who violates the law or any building code should be given undue consideration.”
Adding his perspective, the state Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transportation, Usman, highlighted the importance of affordable housing in driving the nation’s economic growth and ensuring climate resilience.
Je explained that the gathering would provide an essential platform for stakeholders to come together and recognize the significance of this issue.
“It is pertinent to note that our collective goal is to provide opportunities for every individual to access safe, decent, and affordable housing,” Usman said.
The Commissioner also shared insights into the state government’s efforts to bring the renewed hope housing agenda to life.
In the 2024 fiscal year, Gombe State has allocated considerable funds for infrastructural development, particularly in the housing sector, through strategic partnerships with the North-East Development Commission and Family Home Funds Limited.
“This is in line with one of the priority pillars of Gombe State Development Plan 2020-2030, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation,” Usman concluded, signaling the state’s commitment to building a more sustainable and resilient future.
