Tragedy struck in the Alagomeji area of Yaba on Friday night when a three-storey building under construction collapsed, leaving three people dead and four others rescued from the rubble. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. at No. 333 Borno Street, prompting a swift response from emergency agencies.
Mrs. Ibitayo Adenike, Acting Head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Lagos Operations Office, confirmed the latest casualty count early Sunday morning.
“The recovery of one more body brings the total to seven – three fatalities and four survivors,” she said, adding that search and rescue operations remain ongoing.
The collapse has once again raised urgent concerns about construction safety standards in Lagos, where building failures have become alarmingly frequent.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud crash before seeing clouds of dust and debris engulf the area. Residents and passersby rushed to the scene, attempting to assist before emergency responders arrived.
Teams from NEMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force have since cordoned off the site and are working around the clock to ensure no one remains trapped.
Authorities have yet to confirm the total number of individuals who may have been inside the building at the time of the collapse. Investigations are underway to determine the cause, with early speculation pointing to structural weaknesses and possible violations of building codes.
The Lagos State government has repeatedly warned developers against unsafe practices, but enforcement remains inconsistent. Civil society groups have called for stricter oversight and accountability to prevent further loss of life.
