Experts blame poor design for building failures, push smart construction solutions in Nigeria

Construction experts have blamed weak design standards, poor professional oversight and profit-driven practices for the growing concerns over building failures in Nigeria, while calling for a shift toward smarter and more sustainable construction models.

The warning came during a strategic industry conversation led by business development consultant Chinedum Evans Ewe, where the leadership of GreenArc Global Consultants and Construction Ltd said Nigeria’s construction sector must move from conventional building methods to performance-driven systems.

Speaking at the session, the Managing Director of GreenArc, Arc. Trevor Gemade, said many buildings in Nigeria fail because they are not designed to perform.

“Too many projects are driven by business interests rather than professional expertise,” Gemade said.

“You find non-trained individuals leading projects, and the result is poor site orientation, weak safety standards, and structures that do not respond to their environment.”

He said the problem goes beyond materials and costs, arguing that poor planning and weak technical execution often create buildings that struggle to withstand environmental and operational demands.

Gemade said firms must stop treating buildings as static structures and begin designing them as systems that respond to climate, airflow, heat and human use.

“We simulate everything before construction,” he said.

“Indoor air quality, heat gain, environmental response, these are not assumptions. They are tested.”

According to him, performance-based design allows developers to detect risks early, improve building efficiency and deliver long-term value.

He also criticised the widespread practice of replicating designs without adapting them to specific site conditions.

On sustainability, Gemade said many developers use the concept as a marketing phrase without meeting measurable standards.

“Every building must meet defined parameters,” he said.

“We don’t just talk sustainability, we simulate and validate it.”

He said GreenArc applies climate-responsive materials, adaptive facades and location-specific design strategies to improve building performance across Nigeria’s varying environmental zones.

The architect also linked poor design to rising maintenance costs, saying badly designed buildings often become expensive to operate and difficult to sustain.

“Maintenance is a major issue,” Gemade said.

“When buildings are not designed correctly from the start, the cost of keeping them functional becomes unsustainable.”

He argued that stronger professional expertise must drive not just design, but long-term asset value.

Looking ahead, Gemade urged the industry to embrace smart construction systems, noting that intelligent buildings now play a central role in global construction.

He said the future lies in structures that can regulate energy use, improve safety and respond to environmental changes in real time.

“We need cities that can adapt, recover, and evolve,” he said.

“Cities that breathe, not just exist.”

Chinedum Evans Ewe, who led the engagement, said conversations across the sector are increasingly shifting from building more to building better.

Industry experts at the event identified stronger professional standards, transparent procurement systems and greater emphasis on performance as critical steps needed to improve Nigeria’s built environment.

They maintained that if the sector embraces innovation and technical discipline, Nigeria can reduce building failures and create more resilient cities.