NIOB Renews Call for Stricter Building Regulations After Two Building Collapses in Abia

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Abia State Chapter, has renewed its call for stricter enforcement of building regulations and professional standards following the collapse of two buildings in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area.

The buildings, which were at advanced stages of construction, collapsed at New Jerusalem Road 8 and Eze Iheme Road, by Ama Uchenna Mgboko, Umuette Okpulo Umuobo, in Osisioma Ngwa LGA. Fortunately, no lives were lost in either incident.

A delegation from the institute visited the sites on Saturday, June 20, 2026, to assess the damage and reiterated the need for urgent and coordinated measures to prevent future structural failures.

Speaking during the inspection, the Chairman of the Practice Committee of the NIOB Abia State Chapter, Wisdom Okore, described the recurring incidents of building collapse across Nigeria as a serious concern requiring immediate intervention by government, regulatory agencies, and construction professionals.

Okore emphasized that continuous capacity building through regular workshops, training programmes, and professional development would improve compliance with established standards and enhance the quality of building construction across the country.

He noted that registered professional builders have the statutory responsibility of coordinating and managing building projects from conception to completion in accordance with approved professional standards and regulatory requirements.

The NIOB official also urged the Abia State Government to strengthen the enforcement of the National Building Code and the Abia State Physical Planning and Development Regulations, stressing that strict implementation of existing laws would significantly reduce cases of structural failure.

While expressing relief that no lives were lost in the two incidents, Okore sympathised with the affected property owners over the losses they sustained.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Abia State Chapter, Mr. Chinedu Nwanosike, urged professionals in the building industry to uphold ethical standards and ensure strict compliance with approved construction procedures.

He maintained that adherence to professional best practices, proper supervision, and regulatory compliance remains critical to safeguarding lives, protecting investments, and preventing avoidable building collapses.