Building Collapse in Abuja and Lagos Between 1984 and 2023: Assessing Structural Vulnerabilities to Prevent Reoccurrence
Abstract
This study collects, collate, tabulate and analysed reported cases of structural failures leading to building collapses in Abuja and Lagos between 1984 and 2023. Four research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The population of the study consisted of 417 Engineers comprising of 184 in Abuja and 233 in Lagos State chapter duly registered with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). The research employed purposive sampling technique to select 30 Civil Engineers from Abuja and Lagos State respectively. A 30-item questionnaire consisting of three sections and 5-point rating scale used for data collection was faced validated by three experts. Cronbach alpha statistics was used to determine the reliability coefficient of the instrument which yielded overall reliability index of 0.89 comprising of 0.91 and 0.87 for Section B and C respectively indicating that the instrument was reliable. Frequency, Percentage, Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions while the hypotheses were tested with independence t-test at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that Abuja has 9 cases of building collapse and 114 numbers of lives lost while Lagos has 108 cases of building collapse and 460 numbers of lives lost. This implies that Lagos State has the highest numbers of building collapse and lives lost between 1984 and 2023. Furthermore, result of the study revealed that lack of monitoring, use of quacks and unapproved plan, inadequate site investigation and appropriate material tests among others were the causes of building collapse in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria between 1984 and 2023. From the findings of the study, the researchers recommended that adequate monitoring of building construction, use of professionals and approved plan, adequate site investigation and appropriate material tests, prosecution of offender(s) among others as strategies to effectively mitigate incessant bu
Keywords
Building Collapse
Nigeria
Structural Failure
Causes
Remedy
Construction
References
Adebayo, S.O. (2020) Improving Building Techniques. Proceedings of Workshops on Building Collapse: Causes, Prevention and Remedies. The Nigerian Institute of building, Lagos State. Ajufoh, M.O., Gumau, W.A., & Inusa, Y.J. (2014). Curbing the menace of building collapse in Nigeria. International Letters of Natural Sciences, 168–178. https://doi.org/10.18052/www.scipress.com/ilns.20.168. Akoni, O. (2023). Again, three storey building collapse in Lagos. Vanguard News, 12 April, Retrieved on October 16, 2023 from https://www.vanguardngr.com. Almarwae, M. (2017). Structural Failure of Buildings: Issues and Challenges. World Scientific News, 97-108. Amadi, A.N., Eze, C.J., Igwe C.O., Okunlola, I.A. & Okoye, N.O. (2018). Architect’s and Geologist’s View on the Causes of Building Failures in Nigeria. Modern Applied Science, 6(6),31-38. Awe, O.O., Atofarati, E.O., Adeyinka, M.O., Musa, A.P., & Onasanya, E.O. (2023). Assessing the factors affecting building construction collapse casualty using machine learning techniques: A case of Lagos, Nigeria. International Journal of Construction Management, 24(3), 261-269. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2023.2222966. Awoyera, P.O., Alta, J., Odetoyan, A. & Akinwumi, I.I. (2021). Building Collapse in Nigeria During Recent Years Causes, Effects and Way Forward. IOP Conference Series on Materials Science and Engineering, Briston, 1036 (1), 12-21. Doi:10.1088/1757- 899x/1036/1/01 2021. Ayayi, O.O. (2022). Incessant building collapse in Lagos State, Nigeria: Beyond a legal framework. Nnamdi Azikiwe University Journal of Commercial and Property Law, 9(3), 149-164. Ayedun, C.A., Durodola, O.D. & Akinjare, O.A. (2011). An empirical ascertainment of the causes of building failure and collapse in Nigeria. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1),313-322. Babalola, H.I. (2015). Building collapse: Causes and policy direction in Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovative Technology, 2 (8), 1-8. Retrieved on October 16, 2023 from http://www.ijsrit.com/uploaded_all_files/1893700813_j1.pdf Chendo, I.G & Obi, N.I. (2015). Building Collapse in Nigeria: The Causes, Effects, Consequences and Remedies. International Journal of Civil Engineering, Construction and Estate Management, 3 (4),41-49. Retrieved on June 15, 2023 from www.eajournals.org. Chendo, I.G. & Obi, N.I. (2015). Building Collapse in Nigeria: The Causes, Effects, Consequences and Remedies. International Journal of Civil Engineering, Construction and Estate Management, 3 (4),41-49, Retrieved on June 15, 2023 from online www.eajournals.org. Clement, O.J. (2013). Design and construction supervision as structurally sustainable tools for building failure/ collapse in Nigeria. International Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology & Security, 3(3), 271-281. Ebehikhalu, N. & Dawam, P. (2014). Spatial Analysis of Building Collapse in Nigeria: A Study of the Causes and Problems. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 5(25), 95-108. Retrieved on June 15, 2023 from www.iiste.org. Ede, A.N. (2013). Building Collapse in Nigeria: The trend of casualties in the last decade (2000 - 2010). International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering, 10(6),32-36. Ehiorobo, J.O. & Okovido, J.O. (2013). Assessment of the Structural Integrity of an In-service School Building at Risk Using Geotechnical Measurement Parameters. Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences, 4(5),763-767. Emekoma, C.C., Weli, V.E., & Umeuduji, J.E. (2023). Assessment of remedial measure and trend of building collapse in Southern Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Academic Research, 9(4), 27-35. Retrieved on June 15, 2023 from www.ijaar.org Fakere, A.A., Fadairo, G. & Fakere, R.A. (2012). Assessment of Building Collapse in Nigeria: A Case of Naval Building, Abuja, Nigeria. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2(4), 54-61. Retrieved on June 15, 2023 from http://iet- journals.org/archive/2012/april_vol_2_no_4/66496413387859.pdf. Hamma-Adama, M. & Kouider, T. (2017). Causes of building failure and collapse in Nigeria: professionals' view. American journal of engineering research [online], 6(12), 289- Retrieved on June 15, 2023 from http://www.ajer.org/papers/v6(12)/ZR0612289300.pdf Hamma-adama, M., Iheukwumere, O. & Kouider, T. (2020). Analysis of Causes of Building Collapse: System Thinking Approach. Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering, 14(2),188- 197 Hilary, I.O., Chukwuemeka, I.O., Nkolika, J.P., James, D.O., Patience, I.A. & Abiodun, A.O. (2018). Systematic review of building failure and collapse in Nigeria. International Journal of Civil Engineering Technology, 9 (10), 1391-1401. Job, O.F., Daffi, R.E., Sati, Y.C., Ketkukah, T.S., Maude, E.H., Aliyu, G. & Danjuma, T. (2019). Technical Report on Collapsed Hall/Office Complex for Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) at Gura Zot B, Kwang Jos South, Plateau State, Nigeria. NBRRI Report No.44. Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abuja. Maduka, C. (2023). Buildings collapse whenever it ought to. THISDAY Newspaper, 12 April, Retrieved on October 16, 2023 from https://www.thisdaylive.com. Michael A.A., & Oyewale, I.O. (2018). Assessment of building collapse in Lagos Island, Nigeria. American Journal of Sustainable Cities and Society, 1(7),23-36. https://doi.org/10.26808/rs.aj.i7v1.04. National Population Commission (NPC, 2018). Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018. Abuja, Nigeria, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NPC and ICF. Nicholas, O.I., Dickson, N.M. & Okeke, F.O. (2022). Building Collapse in Nigeria and its Consequences on the Architect’s Role as the Leader of The Building Team. Jordan Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 13(1),16-2. Nwankwo, S.I., Nwankwo, C.V., & Okafor, M.U. (2015). An investigation of incessant building collapse in selected Cities of Nigeria. The International Journal of the Constructed Environment, 6(2), 17-39. Nworgu, B.G. (2015). Educational research: Basic Issues and Methodology. Ibadan: Wisdom Publishers. Nwoyiri C. S., Attado, C.M. & Uchechi, A.K. (2023). Building Collapse in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Analysis Towards Sustainable Urban Development. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 13(10),58-77. Obodoh, D.A., Nwachukwu, C.C. & Obodoh, C.M. (2019). Analysis of the Impact of Building Collapse Risks in the Nigerian Economy. Environmental Review ER, 6(2), 92-109. https://www.researchgate.net/journal/0147-2496. Odeyemi, S.O., Giwa, Z.T. & Abdulwahab, R. (2019). Building collapse in Nigeria (2009- 2019), causes and remedies. A review. Journal of Science and Engineering Production, 1 (1),122-135. Ogbemudia, C.E., Ndububa, E.E. & Mbaezue, N.D. (2021). An investigation into Causes of Building Collapse in Abuja, Nigeria. Global Scientific Journals, 9(2),435-446. Retrieved on June 15, 2023 from www.globalscientificjournal.com. Oguntimehin, A.S. & Adejugbagbe, J.A. (2019). An assessment of the causes and effects of building collapse in Nigeria. Being a paper presented at 7th National Conference of the School of Environmental Studies held at International Conference Center the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State. Pp 1-17. Oke, A. (2011). An Examination of the Causes and Effects of Building Collapse in Nigeria. Journal of Design and Built Environment, 9 (6),37-47. Okeke, F.O., Chendo, I.G. & Sam-amobi, C.G. (2019). Resilient architecture; a design approach to counter-terrorism in building for the safety of occupants. IOP. Conference Series Material Science and Engineering 640 (12003) doi:10.1088/1757- 899X/640/1/012003 Okeke, O.F., Sam-Amobi, G.C. & Okeke, I.F. (2020). Role of local town planning authorities in build
