Lagos Building Collapse: NEMA Confirms One Dead, Three Injured As Rescue Efforts Continue | Sahara Reporters
The cause of the collapse has not yet been officially determined
One person has been confirmed dead following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction in the Mushin area of Lagos on Sunday.
Three others were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital after the structure, located on Ishaga Road opposite the Central Mosque in Idi Araba, came down at about 3:50 p.m.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the collapse earlier in a statement made available to journalists.
According to Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, the NEMA Coordinator for the Lagos Territorial Office, emergency response teams were swiftly mobilised to the scene, where ongoing rescue operations were launched.
Giving an update on Sunday evening, Farinloye said, “A dead body recovered. Search and rescue ongoing.”
Earlier in the day, Farinoiye said three people had been rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment, adding that further updates would be provided as more information became available.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been officially determined, but the incident adds to a string of structural failures that have plagued Lagos in recent years, often attributed to poor regulatory oversight, substandard materials, and disregard for approved building plans.
Recurring Building Collapses in Lagos
Lagos has seen multiple building collapses in recent years, raising concerns about construction standards and regulatory enforcement.
In April 2023, a seven-storey building under construction in Banana Island collapsed. In May 2022, a three-storey building on Herbert Macaulay Way in Yaba-Ebute-Metta crumbled during construction, resulting in multiple casualties.
Experts and advocacy groups have consistently called for stricter enforcement of building regulations, routine structural integrity tests, and stiffer penalties for developers who flout the law. Despite these calls, incidents have continued, particularly in densely populated areas like Mushin, where informal developments and high demand for housing often lead to regulatory compromises.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and other emergency bodies are expected to issue detailed findings once rescue operations are concluded and an investigation into the cause of the latest collapse is completed.
