Panic gripped residents of Agarawu Street, near Aroloya Central Mosque in the Idumota area of Lagos Island, on Sunday afternoon when a three-storey building under construction suddenly collapsed, leaving three workers trapped under the rubble. Miraculously, all three construction workers were rescued alive.
The incident, which occurred around 2:00 p.m., caused widespread alarm among residents and passersby. The collapsed structure was closely surrounded by three existing two-storey buildings, making the situation particularly dangerous. Eyewitnesses recounted that heavy debris crashed into a nearby sitting room in a residential building directly opposite the site, narrowly missing occupants.
Worshippers at the adjacent Aroloya Central Mosque were also said to have escaped unhurt, as prayers had ended shortly before the collapse occurred. A resident, Shehu Toheeb, who spoke to journalists, expressed shock over the incident. He noted that the building did not show visible signs of weakness before the tragic turn of events. “The workers were getting ready to begin the third-floor decking when the structure gave way. Thankfully, they were rescued alive. We can only thank God that it happened on a Sunday when many residents were not around,” he said.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) swiftly mobilised to the scene. In a preliminary report, the agency stated that the immediate cause of the collapse could not yet be confirmed. However, further investigations are underway to determine both the root and immediate causes of the incident.
Officials from the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) were also present, collecting samples of building materials from the site for laboratory testing to ascertain whether substandard materials may have contributed to the structural failure. Meanwhile, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) dispatched personnel to supervise debris evacuation and secure the site to prevent further risk.
When reached for comments, LASBCA spokesperson Ademuyiwa Adu declined to speak on the matter, noting that the agency would provide a formal statement after receiving a full briefing from field officers.
The near-tragic incident has once again raised concerns about compliance with building regulations and quality control on construction sites across Lagos State, as residents continue to call for stricter enforcement and routine inspections to avert future disasters.
