Who should be held most accountable for the recurring building collapses in Lagos?
Context
With yet another narrow escape reported by shop owners in a recent Lagos building collapse, it feels like this is becoming a recurring nightmare for residents. Many point fingers at corrupt regulatory agencies, while others blame greedy developers cutting corners with substandard materials. In your opinion, is this primarily a failure of government enforcement or a lack of integrity among private developers, and what is the one thing that would finally stop these tragedies?
Top answers
Umar Sani
@umarsani701• 1mo ago
It is honestly difficult to pin this on just one group because it feels like a toxic partnership between corrupt regulatory oversight and developers who prioritize profit over human lives. While developers are the ones physically cutting corners with cheap materials and bypassing structural approvals, they only get away with it because government agencies often look the other way in exchange for bribes. If I had to pick one thing to break this cycle, it would be the strict enforcement of criminal liability where property owners and complicit regulators face immediate and non-negotiable prison sentences for structural failures. Until there is a real, personal threat of jail time rather than just a slap on the wrist, the incentive to ignore building codes will remain far too high for those involved.
Comments
Adaeze Kanu
@adaezekanu781• 1mo ago
You hit the nail on the head regarding that toxic partnership between developers and regulators. It feels like the cycle will only break when the consequences shift from mere fines, which are often just seen as a cost of doing business, to real personal stakes. I completely agree that criminal liability is the only way to force accountability. Do you think creating an independent, non-governmental oversight body to audit these projects could help keep the process transparent, or would that just add another layer of potential corruption?