News
Collapsed building in Lagos claims lives of 3 workers

Three site workers have, on July 25, 2024, been confirmed dead in a collapsed building at Arowojobe Estate in the Maryland area of Lagos State, Nigeria.
The permanent secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed this to newsmen.
Oke-Osanyintolu stated that the incident took place at No 13, Wilson Mba St. Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos.
He added that the three deceased males found at the building were construction workers.
He said: “The agency received a distress call regarding a collapsed building at the above address at about 3:49am.
“This prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s response team to the scene of the incident at 3:58am.
“Search and rescue operations began immediately, and three adult males were recovered dead…
“Two male adults were rescued alive and one adult male trapped under the rubble was rescued,” he said.
He further stated that those who were rescued were evacuated with the assistance of LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire Service.
“All the six men were site workers. They are receiving pre-hospital care on location…
“The State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit has been contacted for the remains of the three fatalities.
“A combined team of agency personnel, fire service and Nigeria Police are working at the scene.
“LASEMA’s excavator has been deployed to accelerate the search and rescue operations,” he concluded.
Chronicles of collapsed building in Lagos
Building collapses have been a recurring issue in Lagos, often resulting in significant losses of life and property.
Here is a detailed history of notable building collapses in Lagos State:
1990s
1998 – Idi Araba collapse: A four-story building collapsed in the Idi Araba area, killing many occupants.
This incident raised early concerns about the structural integrity of many buildings in Lagos.
2000s
2006 – Ebute Metta collapse: A three-story building in Ebute Metta collapsed, resulting in the death of over 20 people.
The building was reportedly in poor condition and structurally unsound.
2007 – Ikorodu Road collapse: A two-story building on Ikorodu Road collapsed, killing at least six people.
Experts attributed the collapse to using substandard building materials.
2008 – Agege collapse: A two-story residential building in Agege collapsed, killing 10 people.
The incident highlighted the issues of poor construction practices and lack of regulatory enforcement.
2010s
2012 – Ikorodu collapse: A building under construction in Ikorodu collapsed, killing eight workers.
Investigations pointed to poor construction practices and inadequate supervision.
2013 – Lagos Island collapse: A three-story building in Lagos Island collapsed, killing seven people.
The building was reportedly old and structurally deficient.
2014 – Synagogue Church collapse: A guesthouse belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed in Ikotun.
The incident resulted in the deaths of 116 people, including many foreign nationals. This was one of the deadliest building collapses in Lagos.
The investigation revealed structural failures and unauthorized modifications.
2016 – Lekki Gardens collapse: A five-story building under construction in Lekki Gardens collapsed, killing 34 people.
Experts attributed the collapse to poor construction practices and the use of substandard materials.
2017 – Lagos Island collapse: A four-story residential building in Lagos Island collapsed, killing three people.
Reportedly, the authorities marked the building for demolition, but it remained inhabited.
2019 – Ita-Faji collapse: A three-story building in Ita-Faji, Lagos Island, collapsed, housing a primary school and residential apartments.
The collapse tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, including several children.
This incident drew significant public outrage and highlighted the urgent need for stricter building regulations and enforcement.
2020s
2020 – Ebute Metta collapse: A three-story building in Ebute Metta collapsed, killing eight people.
The building was reportedly old and had shown signs of structural weakness.
2021 – Ikoyi High-Rise collapse: A 21-story building under construction in Ikoyi collapsed, killing over 40 people.
The collapse was one of the most devastating in recent years, leading to widespread criticism of regulatory oversight and construction practices.
Factors contributing to buildings collapse in Lagos
Substandard materials: Many collapses occur due to the use of substandard building materials.
Consequently, these materials compromise the structural integrity of buildings.
Poor construction practices: Lack of adherence to building codes and regulations often leads to poorly constructed buildings.
Regulatory failures: Inadequate enforcement of building regulations and corruption among regulatory authorities contribute to the frequency of building collapses.
Moreover, these issues undermine safety standards and compromise structural integrity.
Aging infrastructure: Many old buildings in Lagos have not received proper maintenance, which makes them susceptible to collapse.
Rapid urbanization: The rapid pace of urbanization in Lagos puts pressure on the construction industry, often leading to rushed and poorly executed building projects.
Lagos government moves to prevent buildings collapse
Regulatory changes: The Lagos State government has introduced various reforms aimed at improving building safety.
As a result, these include stricter enforcement of building codes and regulations.
Emergency response: Authorities have strengthened agencies like LASEMA to respond more effectively to building collapses and other emergencies.
Public awareness: The authorities have made efforts to raise public awareness about the importance of building safety.
Additionally, awareness campaigns emphasize the dangers of substandard construction practices.
Building collapses remain a significant concern in Lagos despite these efforts.
This underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and improvements in construction practices and regulatory enforcement.
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