Lagos building collapse rescue teams continue search operations.

A three-storey building collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday, leaving one person dead, 10 others rescued, and an unspecified number feared trapped beneath the rubble as emergency responders continued search-and-rescue operations.

The building, located on Old Ojo Road near Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town, collapsed at about 11:40 a.m., triggering a swift response from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and other emergency agencies.

Authorities said efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue anyone still trapped under the debris.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, permanent secretary of LASEMA, said the agency had activated its emergency response plan immediately after receiving reports of the incident.

“LASEMA has activated its emergency response following the collapse of a three-storey shopping complex at Alakija, Ori-Ade LCDA,” he said.

According to him, emergency workers were carrying out a systematic search of the site amid concerns that more victims could still be trapped beneath the rubble.

“A multi-agency rescue operation is ongoing, with responders working systematically to search for and extricate anyone trapped beneath the rubble,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He disclosed that one person was confirmed dead while rescue efforts continued.

“Members of the public are advised to remain calm, avoid the incident scene, and allow emergency responders unrestricted access to carry out life-saving operations,” he added.

LASEMA said it would continue to provide updates as rescue operations progressed.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service provided additional details on the incident, saying it received a distress call at 11:37 a.m. and immediately deployed personnel from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station.

According to Margaret Adeseye, controller-general of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, firefighters arrived at the scene at 11:49 a.m. and joined other responders in rescue efforts.

She described the collapsed structure as an occupied residential building and said several residents were inside at the time of the incident.

“The incident involves the collapse of a storey building, an existing residential structure occupied by multiple residents at the time of the incident,” Adeseye said.

10 survivors rescued from Lagos building collapse

The fire service said at least 10 people had been rescued alive from the rubble and handed over to medical personnel for treatment.

“As of the time of this report, 10 persons have been rescued alive with varying degrees of injuries and have been handed over to medical personnel for necessary treatment,” she stated.

Adeseye added that emergency workers remained at the site searching for additional survivors.

“Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as emergency responders continue efforts to locate, extricate, and evacuate any persons who may still be trapped beneath the debris,” she said.

Cause of Lagos building collapse remains unknown

Authorities have yet to establish the cause of the Lagos building collapse.

Investigations are expected to focus on the structure’s approval status, construction quality, compliance with building regulations, and any possible structural defects.

Background

Building collapses have remained a recurring concern in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, despite repeated government efforts to strengthen building regulations and improve compliance with safety standards.

Experts have attributed many past incidents to factors including structural defects, the use of substandard construction materials, poor workmanship, unauthorised modifications, and failure to comply with approved building plans.

In recent years, the Lagos State Government has intensified inspections of construction sites and introduced stricter enforcement measures through agencies responsible for physical planning and building control. Several defective structures across the state have also been marked for demolition to prevent disasters.