A two-storey building under construction collapsed on Sunday on Ishaga Road, opposite the Central Mosque in the Idi Araba area of Mushin, Lagos State.
The incident resulted in one fatality, while three individuals were rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as the structure crumbled, sending debris across the road and filling the air with dust. Justine Madueke, who witnessed the collapse, said, “I was passing by when I heard a loud noise, and the building just came crashing down. It is a miracle that more people were not hurt.”
Emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and other agencies, swiftly mobilized to the scene. NEMA’s South West Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed that rescue operations were ongoing to locate any additional survivors.
“Two persons were initially rescued from the debris, while the third was rescued alive at 6:35 p.m. Unfortunately, the fourth person, a male, was recovered dead at 8:00 p.m.,” Farinloye stated.
The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, provided further details, saying, “The distress call was received at approximately 3:30 p.m. Responding agencies included the Isolo Fire Station of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Lagos State Ambulance Service, and the Nigeria Police.”
She added, “Three adult males have been rescued alive with varying degrees of injury. They were attended to at the scene before being transferred to the hospital for further treatment by the Lagos State Ambulance Service. The cause of the emergency is currently under investigation.”
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the collapse, though concerns have been raised about the building’s structural integrity and possible safety violations. Investigations are ongoing to assess compliance with construction regulations and prevent future incidents.
The Lagos State government has reiterated its commitment to enforcing building safety standards, particularly for ongoing constructions, to avoid similar tragedies. Meanwhile, emergency teams remain on-site to ensure no additional victims are trapped beneath the rubble.