Lagos Begins Post-Construction Audit to Check Buildings’ Fitness

Lagos has kicked off another round of audits to ensure all buildings in the state meet regulatory standards and are safe for people to live in.

As part of this exercise by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, building owners need to submit all their building approval documents, including any permits and approvals obtained during construction, for verification and to receive a certificate of completion and fitness.

A letter signed by Abatan Abimbola Sarah, District Head of the Lagos State Building Control Agency’s Ojodu branch, and obtained by InsideBusinessNG, stated that the new Post-Construction Audit exercise requires all owners of existing structures to submit the necessary documents and proof of application to the Building Control Agency within 14 days of receiving the letter or risk legal action.

“In view of the above, you are hereby requested to formally submit copies of all relevant building approval documents obtained for structures constructed within the estate. This includes, but is not limited to, planning permits, approved building plans, and any other authorisations issued by the appropriate authorities”, stated Abatan.

The letter, also sent to residential estates, landlords, and owners of completed buildings, instructs them to apply for a certificate of completion and, where applicable, fitness for habitation, in line with building control regulations. This required certificate ensures that buildings are safe, meet compliance standards, and are ready for occupation.

She cautioned that the requested documents and proof of application need to be sent to the agency within 14 days of receiving the letter, and that failing to do so could lead to regulatory action under the law.

Building collapses are a frequent problem in Nigeria, with Lagos responsible for about half of the cases.

Between 2021 and 2025, Nigeria saw 640 reported building collapses, resulting in a total of 1,595 deaths, according to the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).

 The first known building collapse in Nigeria happened in October 1974, and since then, many more have followed, including the tragic fall of Lagos’s tallest building on November 1, 2021, which claimed 52 lives.

In 2022, the country saw its highest number of building collapses, with 62 incidents nationwide, 20 of which (32%) happened in Lagos. The report also notes that the first building collapse of 2025 was recorded in Rivers State on January 4.

The main causes of building collapses in Lagos include the use of substandard materials, poor workmanship, structural failures, inadequate or non-existent foundations, and failure to follow building codes and standards. 

Other factors are illegal or unauthorised construction, corruption and regulatory lapses, overloading and improper use of buildings, weak enforcement by regulatory bodies, and lack of professional oversight, among others.