A building along Adeniji Adele Road in the Isale Eko area of Lagos Island collapsed early Thursday, injuring several people and triggering emergency responses from Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Nigeria Police Force, and other rescue teams.
An insider at LASEMA revealed that the building was previously identified as unsafe and had been served a quit notice by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA). Despite warnings, residents refused to leave the premises.
“The building had been marked for demolition by LASBCA a while ago. It was clearly in a dangerous state,” said the LASEMA source who preferred to remain anonymous. “Quit notices were served, but the occupants did not vacate.”
Rescue officials confirmed no one is trapped under the rubble. However, the excavation and clearing efforts are being done manually because the area is densely packed with buildings, making the use of heavy machinery difficult.
“The close proximity of buildings on Lagos Island limits our equipment options,” the source explained. “We are carefully removing debris by hand, and thankfully, no lives are currently at risk under the debris.”
The collapse highlights ongoing challenges with enforcement of building safety regulations in Lagos Island’s crowded neighborhoods, putting residents’ lives in danger. Authorities continue to urge compliance with quit notices to prevent such disasters.
