One Dead, 21 Rescued In Lagos Building Collapse

One person has been confirmed dead while 21 others were rescued after a two-storey building collapsed in the Oyingbo area of Lagos State on Monday.

The incident occurred at about 12:11 a.m. at 54, Cole Street, Cemetery Bus Stop, Oyingbo, leaving several occupants trapped beneath the rubble.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), rescue operations began immediately after a distress call was received in the early hours of the day. Teams from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), and other emergency responders were deployed to the scene.

The agency confirmed that 21 victims, including four children, were rescued alive and taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Ebute Meta and the General Hospital, Odan, on Lagos Island for treatment. Unfortunately, one adult male was recovered dead and his body deposited at the mortuary.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the building had earlier been marked as “distressed” due to structural defects. LASEMA said search and rescue operations had since been completed, while officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had cordoned off the area to prevent further incidents.

Building collapses remain a recurring challenge in Lagos, often linked to poor construction practices, weak enforcement of building regulations, and use of substandard materials.

Authorities have urged residents to report any visibly weak or defective structures to relevant agencies to avert future tragedies.