FG moves to tackle building collapses, vows strict sanctions

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has decried the impact of building collapses across the country.

The ministry assured that punitive measures would be imposed on those who violate building codes.

Disclosing this on Monday, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Mohammed Bala, noted that efforts were ongoing to curb the issue.

Bala made this disclosure in Gombe at the opening of the five-day 13th meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, with the theme ‘Housing the Future: Affordable Housing for Economic Growth, Climate Resilience, and Urban Development’.

According to him, the Federal Government was working assiduously to ensure the issue was minimised following its impact on lives.

He explained, “The council is the highest body in policy-making for lands, housing, and urban development. We had asked for memos to be submitted three months ago regarding concerns around housing development in the country.

“We received responses from over 60 organisations on various topics based on the themes we provided to them to help resolve or improve issues in the housing sector. We identified eight areas for discussion.”

Lamenting the frequent building collapses, Bala said, “Housing and building collapse is not just about the house but about the lives of the people. If you care about the lives of the people, you must consider the issue of collapse. I have never seen instances where buildings collapse without loss of property, lives, or injuries.”

He added, “The problem of building collapse is very serious. Mr President has strongly addressed the issue, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, even set up a committee on building codes.

“They have made presentations, and in our programme, we have two sessions dedicated to building collapse. Experts have been invited to make presentations on the issue. It will be deliberated, discussed, and reviewed, and policies will be implemented to affect the entire country.”

Bala noted, “In 2023 and 2024, we had incidents in Jos, Lagos, and
Abuja. Many buildings have collapsed, some of which were reported by the media. However, this is happening every day, often due to natural causes, failure to adhere to building codes, and the use of substandard products. The Federal Government is working to resolve this and minimise such incidents.”

He added, “The Honourable Minister has emphasised sanctions at every meeting. Recently, a tribunal was inaugurated for housing, and the Minister expressed his satisfaction with this. He said that no one who violates the law or any building code should be given undue consideration.”

On his part, the state Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transportation, Usman, disclosed that the gathering would give stakeholders the opportunity to recognise the significant importance of affordable housing in driving economic growth, mitigating climate change, and fostering sustainable urban development.

“It is pertinent to note that our collective goal is to provide opportunities for every individual to access safe, decent, and affordable housing,” Usman said.

He also spoke about the state government’s efforts to actualise the renewed hope housing agenda. Gombe, in the 2024 fiscal year, allocated significant funds for infrastructural development, especially in housing units, through separate partnerships with the North-East Development Commission and Family Home Funds Limited.

“This is in line with one of the priority pillars of Gombe State Development Plan 2020-2030, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation,” Usman stated.