What Is The Value Of A Nigerian Life?

On Friday July 12, 2024, a school building collapsed in Busi Buji community Jos, in the North Central area of Plateau State killing at least 22 people and injuring over 132 others. Most of the victims and survivors were young school children sitting for their end of term exams when the building caved in on them.

The collapse was blamed on a combination of factors – a weak structure and proximity to a riverbank that overflooded after three days of rains and flooding in the area. Unconfirmed reports say the building had been given a demolition notice about 18 years ago in 2006 when it was still under construction, but the demolition order was never effected by the authorities and the owner of the structure continued with the construction.

From 2022 to date, more than a dozen building collapses have been recorded in Lagos alone and these are just documented numbers. Many of these tragedies are avoidable if building regulations and codes are fully adhered to by both the responsible government agencies and the owners of the concerned structures. Experts say corruption to bypass oversight by government officials, poor maintenance culture, substandard construction materials, poor workmanship and lack of proper supervision also contribute to the growing incidents of building collapse across the country.

Regardless of the neighbourhood’s socio-economic standards, this tragic occurrences continue to happen across the country. In Lagos state, from the upscale Banana Island in Ikoyi where at least 45 people died in 2021 in a high rise building under construction, to the relatively average Ebute Metta where a three-story building collapsed killing 10 people and injuring many others, building collapse has become a common recurrence. Evidently, this reflects a much bigger and deeper problem, and this recent loss of lives is one too many.

At least 152 buildings have collapsed in Lagos since 2005, according to a South African university researcher investigating construction disasters in Nigeria. One would think that such worrisome numbers will spur the government to action and declare a state of emergency in the sector. However, from the negligence of the responsible government agencies and officials to the greed of contractors and the obvious impunity of the owners of such death traps, one is triggered to ask what the life of a Nigerian is worth.

What Is A Nigerian Worth?

Determining the cost of a human life, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere, is a complex and sensitive issue that touches on ethical, economic, and social dimensions. Granted, assigning a monetary value to a human life is inherently reductive and fraught with moral and ethical challenges but it has become necessary to assess the worth of a Nigerian life based on the indifference to the protection of life by those responsible.

Of course, no monetary value can truly encapsulate the intrinsic worth of a human life but, one can deduce value based widely on economic conditions, risk perceptions, healthcare, education and social standards among others.

Nigeria’s GDP per capita is approximately $2,000 and as of March 2024, the minimum wage stood at ₦30,000 ($20). In response to economic challenges and the removal of fuel subsidies, the federal government has been negotiating with labour unions to establish a new minimum wage now set at ₦62,000 ($41) though labour continues to push for ₦250,000 ($165). This is still too low giving the current economic conditions and inflationary trends.

The minimum wage negotiations were part of broader efforts to address the high cost of living and economic difficulties faced by Nigerian workers, aiming to provide a more sustainable income that aligns better with current economic conditions. Yet, the proposed minimum wage adjustment by the federal government is below the regional and continental average with Seychelles boasting of the highest estimated minimum gross monthly wage of $465 monthly.

Perhaps the minimum wage is a reflection of the value that the Nigerian government places on the life of the average Nigerian. Otherwise, why would government and other concerned stakeholders continue to ignore this avoidable tragedy that unfolds often right before our eyes claiming dozens of innocent lives and maiming hundreds of others. Proper planning, strict oversight and adherence to regulations could have averted this disaster almost two decades ago.

An Impending Disaster.

As if dealing with the avalanche of corruption induced poverty, poor infrastructure and leadership crisis is not enough for a people, Nigerians also must daily contend with the risk of losing their lives and properties to floods and other environmental disasters that can be avoided or managed with proper planning and technological advancements in other climes.

Recent flooding in Nigeria has significantly impacted various regions, particularly during the peak of the rainy season. As of July 2024, the Federal Government has identified 148 local government areas across 31 states as high-risk flood zones. These areas include states such as Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, and Lagos, among others. However, not much has been seen in terms of concrete steps by the responsible government agencies to avert the impending disaster the flooding might cause.

The collapse of the school building in Jos has been linked to the recent heavy downpour and rain which coupled with the poor structure of the school, was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Unfortunately, innocent children whose futures have been cut short paid with their lives while their parents will forever rue the day the quest for education cost them their children.

For change to happen, there must be consequences for the owners of such defective properties to send a message that defaulters of building codes and regulations will no longer be tolerated. There must also be consequences for government officials who fail to do their jobs and collect bribes to look the other way over such dangerous structures. Until there are consequences for such poor structures leading to the loss of lives and property, we may continue to witness such tragedies in the future.

Nigerian Lives Should Matter

Nigerians are the reason why Nigeria exists in the first place and Nigerian lives should matter to her leaders. While the GDP, VSL and other statistical values are merely figures and proxies and do not capture the intrinsic and infinite value of human life, it is important to note that each life holds unique, immeasurable worth beyond any economic calculation.

Government needs to do better than offering condolences and visiting victims and survivors of building collapse and flooding. A common thread running through all the incidences of building collapse has been impunity – ignoring regulations and warnings, underhand deals by government officials and poor supervision.

Children should not have to die while learning for a brighter future. They deserve better and we have failed them as a nation. Our regulatory bodies in the construction sector must do better to avoid future disasters. There is no excuse for this constant loss of lives in such a gruesome manner.

The Plateau state government blamed the tragedy on the school’s “weak structure and location near a riverbank” and urged schools facing similar issues to shut down. Sadly, this admonition is coming eighteen years too late and at a heavy cost of 22 lives and over 132 injured. This warning should have been followed through eighteen years ago when the first demolish notice was issued to Saint Academy, Busa Buji.

May the souls of all those who died in the building collapse rest in peace and may the families who have lost loved ones be comforted. Nigerian lives should matter!