REDAN seeks criminal prosecution over building collapses, faults regulatory lapses

Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Lagos Chapter, has attributed the recurring incidents of building collapse across the country to regulatory compromise, weak enforcement of building standards and institutional failure.

Tony Aspire Kolawole, chairman of the chapter, has urged governments to prosecute offenders rather than merely demolish defective structures.

Kolawole’s intervention follows the collapse of a five-storey building in Rivers State on June 24, 2026 and a three-storey building in the Alakija area of Lagos on June 25, 2026, incidents that have renewed concerns over compliance with building regulations and public safety.

In a statement issued recently, the REDAN Lagos chairman described the two incidents as avoidable tragedies, arguing that they reflected systemic failures in the country’s building control regime rather than unavoidable accidents.

According to him, persistent disregard for professional standards, the use of substandard materials, compromised approval processes and inadequate regulatory oversight have continued to expose Nigerians to preventable disasters.

“Buildings do not collapse by accident. They do because individuals deliberately cut corners, substitute quality materials with substandard ones, manipulate approval processes, ignore professional advice and evade statutory inspections. Every building collapse is a tragic indictment of failed regulation, failed ethics and failed enforcement,” he said.

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Kolawole warned that unless governments moved beyond what he described as “reactive governance without accountability,” incidents of building collapse would continue to claim lives and destroy property.

He called on the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and other building control agencies nationwide to intensify structural integrity inspections, particularly in densely populated urban communities where ageing buildings and weak compliance pose significant risks.

The REDAN chairman also urged state governments to ensure the criminal prosecution of developers, contractors, consultants, property owners and public officials found culpable of violating building regulations.

According to him, demolition of defective structures without corresponding legal sanctions has failed to serve as an effective deterrent.

“Demolition alone is not justice. Until those whose actions or negligence led to these disasters are prosecuted and convicted, others will continue to treat human lives as expendable,” he stated.

Kolawole further called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to review existing building control legislation with a view to strengthening regulatory oversight, prescribing stiffer penalties for violations and eliminating loopholes that undermine compliance with building standards.

He noted that the legislature had a critical role in supporting reforms capable of improving accountability within the construction sector and restoring public confidence in the state’s regulatory framework.

Addressing members of the real estate industry, he urged developers and other built environment professionals to uphold ethical standards and prioritise public safety.

“Our responsibility is to provide safe and durable shelter, not death traps. Every professional who knowingly compromises standards betrays the trust of the public and endangers lives,” he said.

Kolawole also advised prospective property buyers and tenants to demand approved building plans, structural integrity certifications and evidence of developers’ professional credentials before committing to any transaction.

While noting that REDAN had consistently advocated stronger regulatory enforcement, mandatory certification of developers and reforms to the building approval process, he maintained that recent incidents underscored the need for governments and regulatory agencies to move from policy discussions to effective implementation.

He expressed condolences to families of the victims, wished the injured a speedy recovery and called for sustained rescue efforts for those still trapped beneath the collapsed structures.

Kolawole added that the recurring building collapses should serve as a wake-up call for governments, regulators, lawmakers and industry stakeholders to implement comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening compliance, improving enforcement and safeguarding lives across the country.