In the Nigerian city of Lagos, a building collapses on average every two weeks. so far this year.

While the commercial cost can be estimated, the value of the lives lost in the rubble can never be estimated.

The gaps between buildings, replaced by piles of rubble, are evidence of management incompetence and give rise to accusations that contractors are trying to cut costs by looking for savings.

There are regulations, there are maintenance schedules, there are inspectors – but the system doesn’t work.

Those responsible are never held accountable, so nothing changes.

Lagos, which one expert who spoke to the BBC called the “building collapse capital of Nigeria”, has seen at least 90 building collapses in the past 12 years, killing more than 350 people, according to the Nigerian Engineering Regulatory Council.

One of the most famous incidents occurred in 2021.

Sunday Femi was just metres away in the upmarket suburb of Ikoyi when a 21-storey luxury apartment block under construction collapsed, killing 42 people.

After hearing a loud bang, he was engulfed in dust.

“Like many others, I rushed in, trying to see if I could help some of the people who were trapped. Unfortunately, I knew some of those who died, and I think about that every day,” he says, reflecting on what happened almost three years ago.

A beverage vendor was talking to several construction workers moments before they entered the building site.

He still works nearby, and conversations among locals often turn to these events and their possible causes.

A metal screen protects the area from prying eyes, but piles of broken concrete can still be seen through the gaps in the gate.

Two menacing-looking security guards knocked on the entrance to the ill-fated complex and opened the door, saying they had instructions not to allow anyone except state government officials into the premises.

When the site was closed to visitors, the official investigation into the building collapse was also closed – the case was forwarded to the state governor, who received it in 2022.

According to sources, after conducting an investigation, the expert panel prepared a list of recommendations, but it was not disclosed to the public.

The BBC has repeatedly written to the Lagos State government requesting the release of the recommendations and report on the Ikoyi building collapse, but none of the documents have been released.

However, the coroner spoke out and in 2022 she did not hide her opposition.

In a devastating verdict on the deaths, Chief Justice Oyetade Komolafe said the building collapse was the result of irresponsibility and negligence by government agencies that were supposed to approve and supervise the plans and construction.

Lagos’ population is growing rapidly. It is now estimated to be over 20 million.

As the city grows, so does the demand for housing and commercial real estate. Sometimes it feels like a huge construction site with activity everywhere.

Before work can begin, the plans must be approved by the Lagos State Planning and Development Permissions Agency. Inspectors from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) are then tasked with inspecting the site and checking progress at each stage of construction.

And the Nigerian Standards Organisation should ensure that only suitable construction materials reach the market.

However, in many cases procedures are not followed.

There is a sense of calm in the LASBCA offices – there is no sense of urgency about the problems or challenges facing the organization.

Spokesman Olusegun Olaoye confirmed the criticism but rejected allegations that officials were bribed to issue fake certificates, blaming a lack of resources.

“We currently have about 300 building inspectors and supervisors, but we plan to increase that number,” he says.

Experts agree that more supervisors are needed.

Muhammad Danmarya, an architect and construction expert, believes their number should be in the thousands.

“Three hundred is simply not enough for a state like Lagos. Every local government area should have at least 100 inspectors and supervisors, and Lagos has 57 such areas,” he argues.

“Everywhere you look there is construction going on, so it is important that inspections and supervision are carried out at all times.”

In the absence of such a statewide system, some less-than-scrupulous companies have gotten away with violating building codes, using substandard materials and employing poorly trained workers — three reasons cited for the high rate of collapses.

“They come here to pick us up whenever they have work for us, and they pay us when we’re done,” says worker Habu Isah, who has worked on construction sites for years.

“I never had any training, I learned everything on the job.”

However, even if violations are found as a result of the building collapse, the state construction agency will not take any legal action.

“To my knowledge, there have been no criminal cases in the past related to building collapses in Lagos,” said Mr Olaoye of LASBCA.

“I know the statistics are disturbing, but there are ongoing efforts to stop this trend.”

Alleged political influence constitutes an obstacle to initiating criminal proceedings.

“If you have links with people in power, even if you are the cause of a building collapse, nothing will happen to you,” said a Lagos state politician who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity.

“We’ve seen this happen many times. Some of the high-profile cases involve structures where high-ranking people work and still move freely.

“In Nigeria, if you are rich and have enough influence, you can easily avoid problems.”

With the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency having already recorded 19 building collapses this year, the final tally is likely to be the highest in the past decade.

But lessons can still remain unlearned.

The head of the Nigerian Engineering Regulatory Council recently said the country does not have enough capacity to properly investigate the situation.

“We do not have the knowledge, equipment and resources to do this,” said Prof. Sadiq Abubakar.

Meanwhile, construction workers and others will continue to pay for this with their lives.

Additional information: Andrew Gift