British-Nigerian Lawyer Calls for Urgent Construction Reform After Lagos, Anambra Collapses
Lagos, Nigeria — September 2025 — British-Nigerian lawyer and construction law expert, Abiola Aderibigbe, has expressed deep concern over the recent building collapses in Alimosho, Lagos, and Awka, Anambra State, calling for urgent reforms to prioritise safety in Nigeria’s construction industry.
“Beyond the structures, it is the people affected who matter most,” Aderibigbe said. “Injuries have been sustained, families unsettled, and neighbourhoods shaken. My thoughts are with all those impacted.”
Repeated Failures Raise Alarm
The incidents follow closely after the Yaba building collapse and the Afriland Towers fire on Lagos Island, marking four serious structural failures in just two weeks. Aderibigbe described this pattern as “a sobering reminder that more needs to be done to make construction truly safe and sustainable.”
Call for a Nigerian Construction Act
Aderibigbe emphasised that the goal is not blame but reform. He renewed his call for a Nigerian Construction Act to:
- Unify building standards nationwide
- Strengthen accountability mechanisms
- Embed safety as a non-negotiable duty
“Until such legislation is in place, we must ensure that every conversion and multi-storey project undergoes an independent, transparently certified structural check — not just on paper, but enforced in practice. Simple safeguards like this can save lives,” he explained.
Learning from Global Precedents
Citing global best practices, Aderibigbe — a three-time recipient of the Frances Paterson Scholarship by the UK Society of Construction Law — noted that similar laws have proven effective in other countries.
“Every collapse is not just a structural failure. It is also a signal that reform is overdue. If we act with foresight, we can protect lives, restore trust, and build a safer future. In construction, building safety means saving lives,” he said.
