Many trapped as three-storey building collapses in Lagos

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

A three-storey building under construction at 333 Borno Way, Alagomeji, Yaba, collapsed late Friday, trapping several individuals believed to be site workers beneath the rubble.

The incident, reported in a preliminary statement by Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has prompted an ongoing search and rescue operation.

Emergency responders, including the LASEMA Rescue Team (Onipanu Unit), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Area C Command, and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), are actively working at the scene.

The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, with no official statement yet on whether structural failures, regulatory violations, or other factors contributed to the incident.

According to the preliminary report, three adult male have been successfully rescued alive through the swift efforts of the responders.

They are currently receiving first aid treatment from LASAMBUS and have been transported to General Hospital, Harvey, Yaba, for further medical care.

LASEMA’s excavator is being utilized to clear debris, as search and rescue operations continue to locate additional victims still trapped under the rubble.

Building collapses have been a recurring issue in Lagos, often attributed to poor construction practices, inadequate oversight, or disregard for safety regulations.

This incident follows a series of similar tragedies in the state, including a November 2023 collapse at Oloto Street, Borno Way, which claimed the life of an elderly woman due to an ageing structure’s partial collapse, and a March 2025 collapse at Oriwu Estate, Lekki, where four construction workers died despite prior warnings from LABSCA.