One D3ad as Four-Storey Building Collapses in Lagos
The Alagomeji area of Yaba, Lagos, is no stranger to the hustle and bustle that defines the Lagos mainland. Known for its mix of residential and commercial buildings, the neighborhood typically comes alive with the sound of hawkers, bus conductors, and the hum of commerce that fuels the city’s relentless pace.
But on the afternoon of Sunday, September 14, 2025, the vibrant atmosphere turned to chaos as a four-storey building under construction suddenly crumbled, sending clouds of dust into the air and causing panic among residents and passersby. Within minutes, the structure lay in ruins, a heap of concrete and twisted iron rods where walls and windows once stood.
Eyewitnesses said the collapse was accompanied by a thunderous sound that reverberated across the area, followed by cries for help from construction workers who had been trapped inside.
“We just heard a loud boom like an explosion, and the next thing, the building went down,” said a trader who sells fruits nearby. “People started running everywhere. Some of the workers ran out, but others were inside when it happened.”
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that its operatives were among the first responders to arrive at the scene. They were joined by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Police, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Rescue workers immediately began combing through the rubble with heavy-duty equipment, bulldozers, and excavators. Local volunteers also joined the effort, using shovels, pickaxes, and bare hands to search for survivors.
In its initial report, NEMA disclosed that four people had been rescued and were in stable condition. There were speculations, however, that two more people might still be trapped under the rubble.
“Search and rescue operation is still ongoing at the building collapse scene,” NEMA stated. “The number of persons rescued remain four; they are in stable condition. No additional person has been rescued at the time of this report but there is speculation of two more persons under the rubbles.”
Hours later, a somber update followed: one male body had been recovered from the debris.
“One body (male) has just been recovered from the rubble. Search and Rescue operation is still ongoing,” the agency said.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in its own report, stated that eight construction workers had been rescued, a number that suggests multiple coordinated rescue efforts were underway.
As of press time, authorities had yet to release the identity of the deceased victim pending notification of next of kin. But witnesses said the man had been working on the upper floor of the building when it gave way.
“He was shouting for help, but before we could get to him, everything collapsed on top of him,” said another construction worker, who narrowly escaped with injuries.
Survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals, where doctors worked to stabilize them. Some sustained fractures, while others had deep cuts and bruises.
One of the survivors, speaking from his hospital bed, recalled the terrifying moment the building began to shake.
“We had just finished mixing concrete when we heard a cracking sound,” he said. “Before we knew it, the floor started to give way. I jumped and ran, but others were not so lucky.”
Residents of Alagomeji expressed both grief and anger, saying the tragedy could have been prevented if proper building standards had been enforced.
“We have complained several times about this building,” said a local resident. “The work looked rushed. They were working even at night, pouring concrete without waiting for the earlier layers to set. It is like these developers value speed more than human life.”
Some residents also questioned whether the building had the necessary regulatory approval from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) or whether officials had inspected it at any point during construction.
Unfortunately, Lagos has witnessed repeated cases of building collapses in recent years. From the 2021 Ikoyi high-rise disaster that claimed over 40 lives, to multiple smaller-scale collapses across Mushin, Ebute-Metta, and Surulere, the city seems trapped in a cycle of unsafe construction practices and weak enforcement of building codes.
Data from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) shows that Nigeria records an average of 20 building collapse incidents annually, with Lagos accounting for the highest number. The causes are often traced to:
- Use of substandard materials
- Poor engineering supervision
- Non-compliance with building regulations
- Corruption in approval processes
- Overloading of structures beyond approved designs
The Alagomeji tragedy, experts argue, fits this disturbing pattern.
Civil engineers and urban planners were quick to react, calling for tougher regulatory action to prevent further loss of lives.
Dr. Folusho Adebayo, a structural engineer and member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, said the incident once again highlighted the danger of cutting corners in the construction industry.
“Concrete requires a curing period of at least 21 days before loading the next floor,” he explained. “But many developers, in a bid to save time and money, pour floor upon floor without allowing the necessary curing period. This weakens the building from within.”
Urban planner and housing policy analyst, Mrs. Nkem Eze, also criticized what she described as “a culture of impunity” among developers.
“We cannot continue to lose lives because of greed and weak governance,” she said. “There must be criminal liability for developers and engineers who compromise safety standards. Lives are at stake.”
Following the collapse, Lagos State Government officials visited the site, promising to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the disaster.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, vowed that any developer found culpable would face prosecution.
“We will not allow Lagosians to continue dying needlessly,” he said. “This is a government that believes in due process. The law will take its course.”
But residents remain skeptical. They argue that after every collapse, similar promises are made, only for public interest to fade away after a few weeks.
“We have heard these words before,” said a shop owner near the site. “What we need is action, not press statements.”
Perhaps the most painful dimension of the tragedy is the human one. Behind every headline is a family grieving, children left without fathers, and wives without husbands.
At the General Hospital where the body of the deceased was deposited, relatives could be seen crying uncontrollably.
“He left home this morning to work and never came back,” one of them said. “How do we explain this to his children?”
The psychological trauma for survivors will also take time to heal. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common but often overlooked consequence of building collapse disasters, leaving survivors with nightmares, anxiety, and fear of entering tall buildings again.
Civil society groups have begun mobilizing to ensure the tragedy does not fade into oblivion. The Lagos-based group, Spaces for Change, called for the creation of a public database of ongoing construction projects, including their approval status, to enable residents track potentially unsafe structures in their neighborhoods.
“Transparency is key,” said the group’s director, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri. “If we know which projects have approvals and which do not, communities can hold developers and regulators accountable before a disaster happens.”
The Alagomeji collapse is yet another grim reminder that Nigeria cannot continue business as usual. Every building collapse leaves behind not just debris, but questions about the value placed on human life.
To prevent a repeat, experts and residents alike recommend:
- Strengthening building approval processes and making them transparent
- Conducting regular on-site inspections by qualified engineers
- Blacklisting and prosecuting developers who flout regulations
- Establishing an emergency response fund for victims of building collapses
- Educating the public about signs of structural distress
Until these measures are taken seriously, Lagosians fear that more buildings will fall, more families will mourn, and more promises will be made with little follow-through.
As dusk fell over Yaba on Sunday night, searchlights continued to sweep the ruins of the collapsed building, a symbol of both tragedy and hope — hope that someone still buried might be rescued, hope that perhaps this time, lessons will finally be learned, and hope that the lives lost will not be in vain.
Source: LIB