ABSTRACT
For more investigations and documentation on the causes and prevention of building failures in Nigeria, this research was conducted on two defective buildings selected in Minna Niger state. One building which is a one storey building has structural failure of its elements. In order to determine the causes of structural failure of the one-storey building, concrete strength test was carried out on the structural elements using a re-bond hammer. Also some sandcrete blocks left on the site were taken for testing. For two-bedroom flat, soil samples were obtained from the site and tested in the soils laboratory of the Federal University of Technology Minna. From the investigations carried out, it was discovered that the structural elements of the one-storey building failed due to low concrete strengths and inadequate reinforcements. The results of the soil samples for the two bedroom flats fell short of the specification. It is therefore recommended that the one-storey building should be demolished and proper Architectural and structural drawings be prepared, while the ideal foundation for the two bedroom flat should have been a a raft foundation, in view of the fact that the area is a made-up ground.