The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that two people died, while 20 others were rescued after a two-storey building collapsed on Monday at 54 Cole Street, near Cemetery Bus Stop, Oyingbo, in Lagos State.
The agency, in a statement released on its X handle (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, said its Lagos Operations Office led a multi-agency rescue effort, deploying personnel and equipment to the site immediately after receiving distress calls.
“Upon arrival, emergency teams discovered several occupants trapped beneath the debris. After several hours of intensive operations, 20 persons were rescued alive, while those with injuries were promptly evacuated to nearby hospitals for treatment. Sadly, two fatalities were confirmed,” NEMA said.
According to the statement, the search and rescue mission has now been concluded, with all occupants accounted for. The Nigeria Police Force supervised the site clearance and maintained security and crowd control during the operation.
Building Ignored Demolition Order
NEMA disclosed that preliminary assessments revealed the collapsed structure had previously been marked for demolition by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) due to structural instability.
“Occupants reportedly ignored the evacuation directive,” the agency stated.
An Emmynet24 news media correspondent who visited the scene earlier reported that some residents had been aware of the building’s distressed condition before the collapse.
A shop owner, Mrs. Adaeze, lamented losing goods worth millions of naira trapped under the rubble.
“The government had been giving us notice to leave because the building was distressed, but the owner was not cooperating,” she said. “Now my goods are gone. I’m appealing to the government to support me.”
Another resident, Habeeb Jamiu, said the incident occurred shortly after a midnight rainfall.
“We heard people crying for help around 1 a.m. and began to rescue them before emergency responders arrived,” he recounted. “The building had visible cracks. Everyone knew it was unsafe.”
Authorities Urge Compliance with Safety Notices
NEMA commended the professionalism and coordination of all responding agencies, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and security personnel, in the successful rescue operation.
The agency reiterated its call for residents to adhere strictly to safety and evacuation directives issued by regulatory authorities to prevent further avoidable tragedies.
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