Investigate Collapse of 3-storey Building in Maryland, BCPG Tells Sanwo-Olu

Bennett Oghifo

Members of a nongovernmental organisation, the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Kosofe Cell, Lagos State, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to investigate the collapse of a 3-storey building under construction (including a penthouse), which reportedly killed five persons. 

According to the BCPG, the building, located at No 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Mende, Maryland, Lagos collapsed in the early hours of Thursday, 25th July 2024. 

In their open letter to the governor, dated 27th July, 2024 and signed by BCPG Kosofe Cell Coordinator, QS Adesoji Adeniji, FNIQS; and Secretary, BCPG Kosofe Cell Engr. Abdufattah Balogun, MNSE, the group expressed their deep concern over the collapse, saying, “Premature death through avoidable building collapse should not be condoned.

“We are emotionally pained by this incident, considering the fact that government officials have been monitoring building construction in this estate, complementing our relentless advocacy against building collapse.

“An urgent investigation of this collapsed building, we believe, will help prevent a recurrence among other buildings that are currently undergoing construction and those that have recently been completed in this locality.”

They said the existence of wetlands within the Kosofe Local Government Area, due to its nearness to the Lagoon, has been a difficult challenge to physical development. 

“Therefore, any building that would stand the test of time in this weak terrain must have a special foundation, especially pile foundation.  “Unfortunately, some of the methods of construction being adopted here (Mende, Maryland) were substandard, leading to sinking and tilting of some buildings.

“The BCPG Kosofe Cell has consistently advocated for the necessity of thorough geotechnical investigations, given the challenging soil conditions in our jurisdiction. “We have repeatedly emphasised the importance of conducting proper soil investigations prior to selecting foundation types and ensuring that building developers adhere to established standards during the construction phase, as highlighted in our seminars and workshops.

“Following our visit to the collapsed building site, we made some observations that raised several critical concerns, warranting investigation by the state government in order to establish the actual cause(s) of this paticular building collapse and recalibrate the integrity of the construction sector,” they said.

The rescue operations conducted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) at the site with the aid of an excavator have now been completed to the ground floor and the debris is being evacuated from the site by lorries, according to the guild.

They said, “The building was reported to be at the finishing stage when it collapsed, with damaged roof members and plumbing materials observed. Newly constructed pile caps were seen on site, raising questions about the construction practice employed. 

“Moreover, there were other occupied buildings in the vicinity with visibly tilted walls and columns. These structures ought to be inspected immediately by both the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory ( LSMTL)  to prevent another potential collapse.
“At this juncture, it is essential that the following questions are addressed:

1. At what stage were the new piles and pile caps constructed?
2. What methodology was employed in the construction of the new piles if they were indeed newly constructed? Did the chosen methodology contribute to the collapse of the structure?
3. LASBCA has a well-defined stage approval and certification process, along with a technical audit of on-site works. When was the last stage of certification conducted?
4. What is the timeline for the construction activities, specifically the commencement date, the dates of installing the new piles and concreting pile caps, and the time of the collapse?
5. Where can we find the quality test results for the concrete and materials used in the construction of the collapsed structure? Or better still, did the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory take note of the questionable quality of concrete used in the building?”
   They recommended the “Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of Adjoining Buildings: Conduct NDT on all visibly tilting buildings within the estate, particularly around the collapsed building site, to prevent further incidents, as signs of distress have been observed. It is essential to assess the strength and stability of these structures in relation to the soil properties in the area.
   “Verification of Previously-Submitted Soil Investigation Reports: Soil investigation reports are a critical requirement for construction in Lagos State. The state should verify the geotechnical surveys submitted for the collapsed building and adjacent structures to understand the soil properties and conditions. Any negligence or poor investigation regarding geotechnical recommendations should be met with severe penalties.
   “Forensic Reporting of fatal building collapse:* It is often said that “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Given that rescue operations can disrupt credible evidence of building collapse causes, we recommend that forensic investigations be conducted concurrently with rescue operations.
   “This simultaneous multidisciplinary approach will help expose any malpractice in the industry and mitigate the activities of unqualified practitioners within the state. This will also make unequivocal the political will, not only to take over sites of collapsed buildings but to punish the avoidable crime against humanity.
   “Accountability and Training: In addition to exposing malpractice, significant penalties should be imposed for any man-made errors in the construction process. The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) should train its staff to perform thorough technical audits of ongoing projects. Construction projects in the state must adhere to both local and international building standards, ensuring the use of quality materials and proper construction techniques. Public officials must also avoid corruption in their monitoring activities.
   “Construction Supervision, Inspection, and Certification: Government agencies should carry out regular and rigorous inspections throughout all phases of construction, issuing stage certifications only after confirming compliance with the established standards and codes. During these inspections, the safety audit and online ratings of contractors with projects in the state should be evaluated weekly and made public. The status and activities of building monitoring agencies at any site should also be transparent.
   “Construction companies must be held accountable for the safety and integrity of their buildings, with mechanisms in place to penalise non-compliance and reward adherence to safety standards.
   “The actual role and impact of the Lagos State Safety Commission on building sites needs to be reevaluated.
   “Quackery in the Design and Supervision of Construction Works: Lagos State should establish a database for individuals authorised to carry out construction activities within the state. “A comprehensive list of all licensed professionals practising in Lagos must be maintained and their years of experience. The competence, roles, and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in the construction process should be clearly documented. “Developers, construction companies, professional consultants, and relevant government agencies must demonstrate their competence and experience, participating at their own risk in any construction projects. “Issues related to design indemnity, contractors’ all-risk insurance, and workers’ compensation policies, as well as the developers’ competence and budget adequacy for the works, should be thoroughly assessed before construction permits are granted.”
   They said, “It is apparent that the latest incident of building collapse in Kosofe underscores significant failures in both construction practices and regulatory oversight functions. We therefore urge your esteemed office to consider these recommendations seriously and to initiate a government probe into the systemic issues contributing to these tragedies. Collaborative effort among governmental agencies, construction companies, and the community is required to ensure adherence to safety standards and accountability at all levels.
   “We shall not relent in the efforts at protecting our locality from the building collapse syndrome that has been ravaging Lagos State and Nigeria in general.
   “Over the years, we have devoted our personal resources to the cause of building collapse prevention. Hence, it is legitimate for us to demand that you make those who caused the collapse be accountable. Lives of innocent building artisans, who had just arrived to handle the finishing aspect of the building, also matter.
   “Together, we can work towards creating a safer built environment for all residents of Lagos State.”