STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TOWN PLANNING LAWS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: PANACEA FOR REDUCING INCIDENCE OF BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA

Purpose: The incidents of Building collapse in Nigeria is becoming increasingly alarming with a lot of aspersion on the integrity of professionals in the built environment. Despite many efforts aimed at ameliorating the urban problems through the enactment of plethora of planning laws and regulations, the administration and implementation of these laws and regulation have been problematic. The research is aimed at strengthening Town Planning Laws and property management as a measure of reducing the incidence of building collapse in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: The research relies mostly on secondary source of data. Findings: Findings revealed that the lack of proper implementation of town planning laws has contributed to the incidence of building collapse. Corruption seems to be a “canker worm” that has eaten deep into the fabric of professionals in the built environment. Furthermore, non involvement of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in the management of private and public properties has to some extent contributed the menace. Originality/value: The study recommends that all states of the federation should domesticate and implement Urban and Regional Planning Law; and that all stakeholders, contractors, building developers, state government and the general public should be more proactive at addressing this scourge and nib the problem of building collapse in the bud. More so, professional bodies saddled with the responsibility of regulating building development should find ways of raising the standard of practice; develop sustainable approach to tackle the emerging development challenges.