Tenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

While the global stakeholders are advocating for the development of a sustainable built environment, Nigeria has been confronted with an increasing frequency of building collapse that does not just affect lives, investment in properties, and livelihood of communities but adversely impacts on the environment, social networks, and slows down the drive towards sustainable development. Whereas effort is being made by the government at different levels to curb the menace of building collapse in Nigeria, evidence suggests that the existing top-down approach applied is ineffective, particularly in major cities. The recurring incidences suggest that the end of building collapse is not in sight, and have, therefore, put palpable fears on home and business owners and residents. Housing stakeholders have therefore been called upon to provide sustainable solutions to mitigate building collapse in Nigeria. This study seeks to provide a community-based approach for mitigating building collapse towards reducing its impact on communities. To achieve the study aim, qualitative research approach and case study method were applied with data obtained from the document reviews and interviews from housing stakeholders in one of the affected locality. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to content analysis using In-vivo 12. Causative factors for building collapse, its physical, social and economic impacts on local communities and community-based measures that could be applied in mitigating building collapse were identified, mapped, and presented. The study proposes a framework to enhance policymaking and regulatory practice towards mitigating building collapse at the local community level in Lagos, Nigeria.