Nigeria records over 1,600 deaths, 650 building collapses in 52 years, says Minister

He shared these figures during a stakeholders' workshop in Abuja, emphasizing that these statistics represent significant human loss and family devastation. Darma noted that many of these collapsed structures had designers, builders, and approving officers, yet licensing and accountability were frequently absent, with few individuals being punished. These tragic statistics have prompted renewed calls for stricter regulation within the construction sector.

The Federal Government is proposing a National Housing and Built Environment Regulation Policy to enhance oversight, enforce developer and agent licensing, improve construction standards, and ensure professional registration. The policy also includes provisions for escrow protection for homebuyers, improved land administration, and a national housing data observatory. The government plans to establish a National Housing Industry Regulatory Commission to enforce compliance.

Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, stated that weak regulatory enforcement and fragmented data have long undermined housing quality and safety, and the proposed reforms aim to strengthen planning, improve compliance, and prevent future building collapse disasters.