By: Tijani Salako.

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s built environment are intensifying calls for the adoption of smart monitoring systems in buildings following a recent structural collapse in Lagos that has renewed concerns over safety standards.

The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Ojodu Cell, said deploying real-time monitoring devices in high-risk structures could significantly reduce incidents of building failure by enabling early detection and timely evacuation.

The call comes in the wake of a school building collapse in the Ogba area of Lagos, where occupants narrowly escaped harm after being evacuated before the structure gave way.

According to the group, the incident highlights the urgent need for proactive safety mechanisms in buildings, particularly those with high occupancy.

It explained that modern monitoring systems powered by Internet of Things (IoT) technology can detect early warning signs of structural distress, triggering alarms before a collapse occurs.

These systems, the group noted, are designed to monitor stress levels, structural movement and deflection in real time, alerting occupants and facility managers once safety thresholds are exceeded.

“When beams begin to bend, columns shift or unusual vibrations occur, automated alerts can prompt immediate evacuation and intervention,” the group stated.

BCPG stressed that beyond technology adoption, building professionals across disciplines including architects, engineers, town planners and facility managers must play active roles in identifying and responding to early warning signs.

It recommended that critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and multi-storey residential buildings be prioritised for the installation of such monitoring systems.

The group further noted that buildings often show visible indicators before failure, including cracks in walls, spalling concrete, bulging surfaces and abnormal vibrations, all of which provide opportunities for preventive action if properly addressed.

While the recent Lagos incident recorded no casualties, BCPG warned that similar warning signs had preceded past tragedies where lives were lost due to delayed response.

It cited a previous school building collapse in Lagos Island where structural distress signals were observed but evacuation was not completed before the building failed, resulting in multiple fatalities.

The group said the latest incident should serve as a critical reminder for authorities to strengthen enforcement of structural integrity checks, particularly on ageing buildings.

It also urged relevant government agencies to act swiftly on identified distressed structures and institutionalise routine inspections to prevent avoidable disasters.

According to the group, combining technology-driven monitoring with strict regulatory oversight remains essential to improving building safety and protecting lives in Nigeria’s rapidly growing urban centres.