The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has concluded search, rescue and recovery operations at the site of a collapsed two-storey building in the Alakija area of Satellite Town, recovering nine bodies and rescuing 27 people alive from the rubble.
The building collapsed at about 11:37 a.m. on Thursday along Old Ojo Road, Alakija, prompting an immediate emergency response from LASEMA and other agencies. The Ijegun-Egba Fire Station was the first to arrive at the scene at about 11:49 a.m., while the Sharks Response Team from Lekki Base and the Alpha Cobra Squad from Onipanu joined the operation within 40 minutes.
The incident occurred barely 24 hours after another building collapse was reported in Port Harcourt, where one person was confirmed dead, underscoring ongoing concerns over structural safety in parts of the country.
In a statement issued on Friday by LASEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Afolabi Olawale, the agency said all 27 rescued victims received immediate pre-hospital treatment from the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) before they were transported to nearby hospitals for further medical care.
According to the agency, four adults were confirmed dead before emergency responders arrived, while five additional bodies, including that of a two-year-old girl, were recovered during the rescue operation, bringing the total death toll to nine.
LASEMA said the remains of the deceased had been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for identification and subsequent release to their families.
The agency attributed the successful completion of the operation to the coordinated efforts of multiple emergency response organisations.
Olawale said agencies involved in the rescue included the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Red Cross and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
LASEMA added that its heavy-duty excavator complemented two excavators deployed by CCECC, enabling responders to safely reach trapped victims and complete the operation.
The agency said rescue operations were concluded at about 4:00 a.m. on Friday after emergency workers reached ground zero.
It also disclosed that the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, alongside the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, provided strategic oversight throughout the rescue exercise.
Following the incident, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed LASBCA to immediately assess the structural integrity of adjoining buildings and enforce compliance with building regulations within the area to prevent further risks.
Building collapses have remained a recurring challenge in Lagos, with several incidents over the years resulting in fatalities and injuries despite regulatory efforts to identify and evacuate distressed structures. In December 2023, a two-storey building on Herbert Macaulay Way in Ebute Metta collapsed, claiming the lives of at least three people, including a 12-year-old boy, even though the building had previously been marked for evacuation by LASBCA.
LASEMA urged residents to promptly report distressed or defective buildings to LASBCA or through its emergency toll-free numbers, 112 and 767, to enable timely intervention and prevent similar tragedies. The agency also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.
