With Lagos introducing compulsory building insurance, attention is on whether the law can curb recurring
building collapses, writesEbere Nwoji
The Lagos State Government has taken a decisive step towards strengthening public safety and risk management by launching the Lagos State Building Insurance Scheme, the first comprehensive state-level implementation of the compulsory building insurance provisions in the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.
The initiative marks a significant shift from decades of weak enforcement under the repealed Insurance Act 2003, which prescribed compulsory building insurance but achieved little in terms of compliance despite recurring building collapses across the country.
Structured around a digital compliance platform, the Lagos scheme is designed to extend compulsory insurance coverage initially to about 500,000 buildings across the state’s 20 local government areas. The first phase targets public buildings, commercial structures, hotels, schools and buildings exceeding two floors. At the same time, compliance and enforcement will be coordinated through the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) using satellite mapping, integrated digital permits and other geospatial technologies.
