A four-storey building under construction in the Alagomeji area of Yaba, Lagos State, collapsed on Friday, killing one person and leaving several others injured. Emergency response agencies swiftly moved in, rescuing at least eight construction workers from the rubble.
The tragic incident, which occurred during working hours, sparked panic among residents and passersby as dust and debris filled the air. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the fatality and ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.
“Search and rescue operation is still ongoing at the building collapse scene. NEMA, LASEMA, Fire Services, Police, FRSC and NSCDC are on ground. The number of persons rescued remains four; they are in stable condition. No additional person has been rescued at the time of this report but there is speculation of two more persons under the rubbles.”
Later, NEMA confirmed that one male body had been recovered, while efforts continued to search for other possible victims still trapped under the debris.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also issued an update, saying that eight workers were successfully pulled out of the collapsed structure and handed over to emergency medical teams for urgent attention.
As of the time of this report, the cause of the collapse remains unknown, but authorities have sealed off the site while investigations begin.
This incident adds to the rising number of building collapses in Lagos, a troubling trend that has claimed dozens of lives in recent years. Experts and stakeholders have often blamed these tragedies on poor engineering practices, use of substandard building materials, and lack of regulatory enforcement.
Alagomeji, located in Yaba—a densely populated and fast-developing part of Lagos—is not new to such incidents. Previous cases in the area and across the state have raised concerns over the safety of construction sites and the structural integrity of buildings.
In 2021, a high-rise in Ikoyi collapsed, killing over 40 people. Just last year, several smaller-scale incidents occurred in Ebute Metta, Mushin, and Lekki, prompting calls for stricter building regulations and monitoring.
Lagos State authorities, including the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, are expected to carry out a full investigation into the latest incident. If any violations of building codes or approvals are discovered, the developers and engineers involved could face sanctions.
Meanwhile, emergency officials remain on-site, continuing search and recovery operations to ensure no one is left behind.
Residents and construction workers nearby have been warned to stay away from the area for safety reasons.
As the state continues to battle its building safety crisis, many Lagosians are asking one question: when will this end?
