By Ikechi Nzeako

Copyright independent

Nigeria has recorded more than 650 building collapses since 1974, with at least 1,616 lives lost, according to figures from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).

Against this backdrop, a legal expert Abiola Aderibigbe, has called for a Nigerian Construction Act, emphasising that a more unified legal framework could strengthen safety, improve efficiency, and boost investor confidence.Aderibigbe, a global legal practitioner and PhD. candidate specialising in construction, energy, infrastructure, and engineering law, told the media that Nigeria’s regulatory framework is “complex, overlapping, and in need of harmonisation.

“Nigeria has an opportunity to move beyond dispersed laws, stalled projects, and preventable building collapses,” he said. “The construction sector is simply too important — for jobs, housing, infrastructure, and national development — not to be supported by a coherent and consistently applied legal framework.”

A Growing Sector, A Mounting ChallengeThe construction sector is one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing non-oil industries, contributing 4.74% of GDP in Q1 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Yet despite its importance, the industry continues to face challenges around efficiency, governance, and safety.

Analysts note that while instruments such as the National Building Code and the Public Procurement Act provide important foundations, their enforcement has sometimes been uneven, creating gaps that affect contractors, regulators, and the wider public.

Global OutlookCiting reforms in the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia, Aderibigbe observed that unified legislation has helped streamline payment practices, strengthen safety standards, and make dispute resolution more efficient.“Other countries facing similar challenges have adopted Construction Acts or Security of Payment laws that provide clarity, improve compliance, and build confidence,” he explained. “Nigeria has the same opportunity to benefit from such reforms,,” he said.

A Five-Pillar SolutionIn a policy brief he produced, Aderibigbe outlined five pillars for a Nigerian Construction Act:National contractor registration and grading to ensure capacity-based procurement.Health, safety, and environmental standards with real penalties.Governance and anti-corruption safeguards to improve transparency and investor confidence.Statutory payment timelines and adjudication to reduce disputes.Skills transfer and local content to strengthen domestic capacity.

Unlocking InvestmentNigeria faces an annual infrastructure financing gap of more than US$100 billion, according to the World Bank Group. Aderibigbe argued that a predictable legal framework would not only save lives but also attract capital.“Investors and development finance institutions want predictability,” he said. “A Construction Act would strengthen project bankability and reduce risks, helping Nigeria mobilise the billions it needs for roads, power, and housing, ” he added

A Call To ActionWith more than 650 collapses and over 1,600 lives lost, Aderibigbe said the need for reform is urgent.“This is not just about technical reform,” he stressed. “It’s about saving lives, creating jobs, and restoring trust in Nigeria’s built environment. The time to act is now.”

Abiola Aderibigbe is a distinguished, multi-award-winning global legal practitioner, corporate executive, educator, and academic. Dual-qualified as a Solicitor in the UK (England & Wales) and the EU (Ireland), he brings extensive expertise in operations, ethics, legal and compliance, governance, and risk across sectors including technology, intellectual property, finance, charity/NGO, construction, energy, engineering, and infrastructure.He serves as Course Director, Module Leader, and Faculty Director at various international educational institutions, where amongst various subjects he teaches international construction law as well as advanced programmes in project finance, sovereign contracting, and risk.Aderibigbe is also a published academic author whose research spans statutory good faith, construction contract reform, and international development finance. Over his career, he has advised governments, industry leaders, and stakeholders across Africa, Europe, North America, and the Middle East, bringing a global perspective to complex legal and regulatory challenges.