One De@d, 27 Rescued as Two-Storey Building Collapses
Tr@gedy struck in the early hours of Monday, October 27, 2025, when a two-storey residential building collapsed on Coast Street, Oyingbo, Lagos Mainland, killing one person and injuring several others. The incident has once again reignited public debate on the safety of Lagos’ aging structures and the enforcement of building standards in one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident, saying 27 people were rescued alive, while one fatality was recorded. The collapse, which occurred around 12:11 a.m., threw the densely populated neighborhood into chaos, with residents screaming for help as they scrambled to pull victims from the rubble before emergency teams arrived.
According to the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, emergency response teams were activated immediately after a distress call was received shortly after midnight. Within minutes, first responders, including personnel from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Nigeria Police, Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC), and the Red Cross, converged on the scene.
“Under the watch of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, once we received the distress call at 12:11 a.m., all emergency responders — including members of the Local Emergency Management Committee — moved swiftly to the scene,” Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu told reporters.
“Our response was not only effective but efficient. We moved strategically and systematically. So far, we have evacuated 21 people to various general hospitals, and they are receiving adequate treatment. In Lagos State, victims of emergencies are treated free of charge, and that policy is being implemented right now.”
He added that five other victims were treated on-site by the LASEMA Ambulance team for minor injuries and subsequently discharged after receiving medical attention.
One person, however, was confirmed dead and their body taken to the mortuary.
Eyewitnesses described the collapse as sudden and devastating. The building, which reportedly housed several families, began to shake around midnight before giving way completely.
A resident, Mr. Sodiq Ajayi, who narrowly escaped, said:
“We were all asleep when we heard a loud cracking sound. Before we knew what was happening, the building just came down. It was like an earthquake. I managed to crawl out, but many of my neighbors were trapped. We started shouting for help and using our hands to dig through the debris until emergency people came.”
Another survivor, Mrs. Esther Balogun, a mother of two, recounted that she and her children were rescued from the second floor by neighbors.
“My children were sleeping when the wall beside their bed fell. I thought we were all going to die. I thank God for our lives, but my neighbor, Mama Sola, didn’t make it. They found her body later,” she said tearfully.
By dawn, a large crowd had gathered at the scene, watching in shock as rescue workers sifted through rubble that was once a home to dozens.
Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that search and rescue operations were ongoing as of Monday afternoon. Specialized equipment, including concrete cutters, thermal sensors, and hydraulic lifters, were deployed to ensure no one remained trapped beneath the wreckage.
“Rescue operations are being carried out with precision and coordination to prevent further casualties,” he said. “We have cordoned off the area and evacuated surrounding buildings to ensure safety.”
Members of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) were also at the scene, conducting joint assessments.
Initial assessments suggest that the building, which was constructed over two decades ago, may have suffered from severe structural fatigue and poor maintenance. Officials hinted that recent rainfall and moisture penetration might have weakened the foundation, leading to the collapse.
A senior LASBCA officer, who requested anonymity, said the structure had shown visible signs of distress before the incident.
“Cracks had been observed in parts of the walls and pillars, and some tenants had already complained of structural instability,” he disclosed. “We are investigating whether the landlord ignored previous warnings or renovation notices.”
Residents, however, allege that repeated complaints to local authorities yielded no action.
“People have been reporting this house for years,” said Miss Temitope Oladele, a trader nearby. “Each time, they said government would come to inspect, but nothing happened. Now look at the result — a whole building gone and lives lost.”
The Oyingbo tragedy adds to a long list of building collapses in Lagos, a city notorious for its fragile infrastructure and rapid urbanization. Data from LASEMA indicates that between 2019 and 2024, Lagos recorded over 180 building collapses, claiming hundreds of lives and displacing scores of families.
Notable among these were:
- The Ikoyi 21-storey collapse in 2021 that killed over 40 people,
- The Ebute Metta two-storey building collapse in 2022, and
- The Sango Street, Mushin collapse in 2024 that left 9 people dead.
Each incident prompted government promises of stricter enforcement, yet collapses continue to occur, raising questions about the effectiveness of regulatory oversight and the integrity of private developers.
In a swift response, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development to conduct a full investigation into the Oyingbo collapse. He ordered that the findings be submitted within seven days, vowing that those responsible — whether landlords, builders, or government officials — would be held accountable.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, the governor said:
“This is a tragic and avoidable loss of life. We must not only provide relief to the victims but also ensure that those who contributed to this disaster through negligence or corruption face the full weight of the law. Lagos cannot continue to lose lives to preventable building collapses.”
The governor also promised temporary shelter and financial assistance for displaced residents.
Medical personnel at Lagos Island General Hospital, Massey Children’s Hospital, and Harvey Road Hospital, Yaba, confirmed that the victims were receiving free treatment under the state’s Emergency Health Policy.
One of the attending doctors, Dr. Favour Nwachukwu, said most patients suffered injuries ranging from fractures to mild head trauma and shock.
“Most of them are stable, though one elderly man remains in intensive care. The quick response from LASEMA and LASAMBUS made a huge difference in survival rates,” she said.
Humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross, Christian Aid Nigeria, and NEMA Volunteers have also deployed relief materials, including food, mattresses, blankets, and medical supplies to the survivors.
The tragedy has once again sparked public anger on social media, with Lagos residents demanding accountability from building regulators and local council officials.
On X (formerly Twitter), hashtags such as #OyingboCollapse, #LagosLivesMatter, and #SanwoOluActNow trended throughout the day.
One user wrote:
“Every year, it’s the same story — another building collapses, government visits the site, promises reforms, and life goes on. Until the next one falls.”
Another, tweeting under the handle @NaijaReformist, said:
“This is what happens when corruption meets negligence. Building inspectors collect bribes and look the other way while people die in preventable tragedies.”
Community leaders in Oyingbo have called for the urgent demolition of all structurally weak buildings in the area to prevent another disaster.
Experts have long warned that Lagos, with its combination of population density, aging buildings, and aggressive property development, remains highly vulnerable to structural collapses.
Engineer Ayo Omotayo, a civil engineer and member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), stressed that most collapses are preventable.
“The problem is not just old buildings; it’s the culture of shortcuts,” he said. “Contractors use substandard materials, and landlords convert single-family houses into multi-storey structures without approval. Unless we enforce compliance and prosecute offenders, this cycle will continue.”
He urged the state government to create a public online database of approved buildings, so that citizens can verify construction status and report suspicious developments.
By mid-morning, the site of the collapse had been cordoned off, leaving behind a haunting scene of dust, debris, and disbelief. Families of victims stood by helplessly, some clutching photographs and praying for news of missing loved ones.
Among them was Mrs. Ngozi Okafor, who wept uncontrollably as she searched for her brother’s belongings in the ruins.
“We were supposed to celebrate his birthday today,” she said. “Now we are planning his burial.”
Clerics from nearby churches and mosques offered prayers at the site, while residents formed support circles to provide emotional assistance to those affected.
The collapse at Coast Street, Oyingbo, is not merely another statistic in Lagos’ long history of infrastructural disasters. It is a tragic reminder of the price ordinary people pay for systemic neglect, corruption, and urban decay.
As rescue efforts wind down and investigations begin, the question remains — will this be the incident that finally forces lasting change, or will it fade into the growing archive of broken promises and forgotten victims?
For now, one life has been lost, twenty-seven have been saved, and an entire community stands shaken — caught once again between resilience and despair in a city that never sleeps, but too often fails to stand.