Barely four days after two people lost their lives in a collapsed two-storey building in Oyingbo, Lagos, another tragedy struck in the state’s Ajegunle area on Thursday. A three-storey building with a penthouse, located at 28, Baale Alayabiagba Street in Apapa, came crashing down, killing one person and injuring eight others.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the building was undergoing manual demolition when it collapsed. Some workers became trapped under the rubble before emergency responders arrived.
Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, confirmed in a statement that rescue operations began immediately upon the arrival of emergency teams.
“Upon arrival of the agency’s response team at the scene, it was observed that a three-storey building with a penthouse undergoing manual demolition had collapsed, trapping some workers under the rubble,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
He added that eight adult males were rescued alive while one adult male was recovered dead. The injured victims were administered first aid at the scene before being transported to Ajeromi General Hospital for further treatment.
“The rescued injured victims were administered first aid immediately by LASAMBUS and subsequently transported to Ajeromi General Hospital,” he said.
Officials from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also responded to the emergency. Spokesperson Shakiru Amodu confirmed the fatality in a phone conversation with journalists.
“There was a building collapse. One person had died,” Amodu said.
This latest incident highlights the growing concern over recurring building collapses in Lagos State. Residents and safety advocates have repeatedly called for stricter monitoring of construction and demolition activities to prevent further tragedies.
In September alone, Lagos recorded multiple building collapses. On September 25, six persons were rescued after a two-storey building gave way on Modupeola Street in the Mangoro area of Alimosho. Earlier, on September 16, two construction workers were pulled out alive after being trapped for four days in a collapsed building in Ebute Metta.
Authorities have attributed many of these incidents to structural weaknesses, poor supervision, and the use of substandard materials. While LASEMA and other agencies continue to improve emergency response times, experts warn that preventive action remains the only effective safeguard.
As rescue operations concluded late Thursday, officials reiterated their commitment to enforcing building codes and conducting integrity tests on aging structures across the city.
The Lagos State Government is expected to release a detailed report on the Ajegunle collapse in the coming days.
