Averting incessant building collapse

There are a few deaths more horrifying than being buried alive beneath tonnes of concrete, bricks, twisted steel and shattered glass. Yet, this nightmare has become an all-too-familiar reality in Nigeria. Building collapse must be averted.
The latest tragedy occurred on June 25 when a three-storey shopping complex in the Alakija area of Lagos State suddenly collapsed. Nine persons, including a baby, reportedly died under the rubble, while 27 others were rescued after frantic emergency operations. The grief of parents, spouses, children and relatives left behind cannot be quantified.
Disturbingly, this tragedy came barely 24 hours after a five-storey building under construction collap...