Tragedy struck the Alimosho area of Lagos State in the early hours of Thursday as a two-storey building undergoing manual demolition partially collapsed, leaving one person dead and two others injured.
The incident occurred at No. 42, Governors Road, Aboru, following a distress call, after which the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) dispatched its Alpha Eagle Response Team from the Cappa, Oshodi unit at 12:56 a.m.
First responders arrived swiftly to cordon off the scene and commence emergency operations.
According to preliminary findings by LASEMA, the structure caved in while manual demolition activities were being carried out, trapping several workers under the heavy debris.
However, through a coordinated search and rescue operation involving LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), two adult males were successfully extricated alive from the rubble.
LASEMA said the survivors were administered life-saving first aid by LASAMBUS personnel on-site before being transferred to a nearby health facility for further medical evaluation.
“Sadly, one adult male was recovered dead from beneath the collapsed structure,” LASEMA confirmed in a statement.
Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, commiserated with the deceased’s family and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He reiterated the Lagos State Government’s commitment to protecting lives and property and issued a stern warning to developers and property owners to prioritise safety.
“We urge members of the public and developers to adhere strictly to building regulations and to engage only certified professionals for demolition and construction activities,” Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu stated. He also called on residents to immediately report any suspicious or unsafe building activities via the 767 and 112 toll-free emergency numbers.
According to LASEMA, Security agencies and community leaders are currently working in concert with the agency to ensure unhindered access for emergency workers and a safe conclusion to the operation.
The state government emphasised that it will continue investing in the decentralisation of response units and equipment capacity to maintain a 10-minute emergency response time across Lagos.
A Recurring Menace
Thursday’s collapse is the latest in a troubling history of structural failures in Nigeria’s commercial capital, despite ongoing governmental efforts to enforce strict building codes.
Just over two months ago, on June 26, 2026, at least eight people—including a baby—died and 26 others were rescued when a three-storey building housing businesses and residences collapsed in the Alakija area of Satellite Town, Lagos.
Experts have consistently linked the high rate of building collapses in the state to a combination of structural defects, the use of substandard construction materials, poor project supervision, and the flouting of approved building plans.
Historical data provided by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild shows that Lagos accounts for roughly 55 per cent of all building collapse incidents nationwide.
The state suffered one of its deadliest structural disasters in recent history in November 2021, when a 21-storey luxury high-rise still under construction collapsed in the upscale Ikoyi neighborhood, claiming the lives of at least 42 people.
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