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Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa. CREDIT: Housing Ministry
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has expressed concern over the recurrence of building collapses in the country and ordered the probe of the recent incident in Kano.
A two-story building in Noman’s Land Quarters, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano, collapsed, trapping several individuals and resulting in two confirmed fatalities, according to the National Emergency Management Agency on September 5.
In a recent statement, the minister ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident and emphasised the urgency of addressing the “rot in the building industry” to prevent further catastrophic events.
“The Kano collapse is another sad development exposing the rot in the building industry over the years, which, if unchecked, will continue to remain catastrophic to the industry and society,” he stated.
The minister called for an overhaul of the system and the strict implementation of building codes and regulations.
He directed relevant officials to quickly investigate the collapse and ensure that decisive actions were taken once findings were submitted.
“I have received the report of the Jos collapse investigation, and a checklist of all professionals involved in the construction is being compiled for us to take action,” Dangiwa said, referencing a previous incident in Jos.
He noted that the government was committed to prosecuting those found culpable in such cases and would take necessary steps to deter others from putting lives at risk.
According to Dangiwa, the state governments, which are closer to the people, should be more proactive in regulating the building industry and curbing the activities of unqualified builders.
“I implore the state governments to wake up and be more effective in checking the excess of quacks in the building construction industry,” he added.
The minister also advised relevant agencies to ensure due diligence in issuing building permits and approvals, emphasising the need for high-quality building materials and adherence to original structural designs.
He expressed condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the incident.
Dangiwa reaffirmed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, was working on a robust regulatory framework to enforce building codes across the country.
