Panic gripped Oriwu Estate in Lagos on Wednesday, as a two-storey building under construction collapsed, trapping several people beneath the rubble. The incident has left residents and bystanders shaken as emergency responders work tirelessly to rescue the trapped victims.
The building collapse occurred early in the morning, sending dust and debris into the air, causing chaos in the area. Neighbors quickly alerted authorities, and teams from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) rushed to the scene to launch a desperate search and rescue operation. As of the latest reports, five adults have been rescued from the collapsed building, with four of them receiving immediate medical care at the scene.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that rescue operations were still ongoing. He assured the public that updates would be provided as the situation develops. “We are working hard to ensure that everyone who may still be trapped is rescued,” Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu said.
The collapse has left the area tense, with onlookers watching in horror, hoping for more survivors to be pulled from the ruins. Emergency personnel continue to sift through the wreckage, working in difficult conditions to find any possible survivors. As rescue operations continue, the cause of the collapse is still unclear. Authorities have said they will investigate possible structural issues or violations of building regulations.
A Pattern of Collapses in Lagos
This latest incident is just one in a series of building collapses that have plagued Lagos in recent months. On January 30, 2025, a two-storey building collapsed in the Ikota area of Ajah, leaving two people dead and five others injured. That collapse occurred overnight at Mega Mall Estate, Mobile Road, Inikpa Villa, and Ikota.
In the case of that collapse, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was called to the scene, and Ibrahim Farinloye, the Lagos Office Coordinator for NEMA, confirmed the incident. At the time, he stated that the cause of the collapse was still under investigation, but like this latest incident, the details remained unclear.
Building collapses in Lagos have become a serious concern for both residents and authorities. The city, one of the fastest-growing in Africa, faces a rapid rise in population and urbanization, which puts significant pressure on the construction sector. With a growing demand for housing and commercial buildings, there is increasing worry that some developers may be cutting corners to meet deadlines or reduce costs, leading to poor-quality structures.
Experts have warned that many buildings in the city may not meet the necessary safety standards, which could explain the frequency of collapses in recent years. Lagos State authorities have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of building codes and construction regulations. However, enforcement has been inconsistent, and some developers continue to disregard safety standards.
Previous Incidents and Growing Concerns
The problem of building collapses in Lagos is not a new one. The city has witnessed several high-profile building disasters over the past decade. In 2019, a building collapse in the Ita-Faji area of Lagos Island claimed the lives of over 20 people, mostly children. This tragedy sparked outrage and led to calls for urgent action to address the issue.
In 2020, another tragic collapse occurred in the Glover Court area, also on Lagos Island. The collapse left several people dead and many others injured. In the aftermath, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised to increase efforts to ensure that buildings are constructed according to approved plans and standards. He also pledged that anyone found guilty of negligence would face legal consequences.
Despite these assurances, many Nigerians feel that more needs to be done to tackle the problem of building collapses in the city. They argue that the government’s response has been slow and that developers who flout building regulations are often not held accountable for their actions.
