Fresh concerns over building safety have emerged following the collapse of a three-storey structure in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday, with several persons feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident, which occurred at about 11:40 a.m., sent panic through the neighbourhood as residents and passersby gathered at the scene amid uncertainty over the fate of those believed to be trapped.
As of press time, the exact number of victims could not be immediately ascertained, while emergency responders were yet to arrive at the location. Authorities had also not disclosed the cause of the collapse or confirmed any casualties.
The latest incident comes barely 24 hours after a five-storey building under construction collapsed along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, prompting an intensive multi-agency rescue operation.
Unlike the uncertainty that initially surrounded the Lagos collapse, emergency authorities in Rivers have assured that rescue efforts will continue relentlessly until every person trapped beneath the debris is accounted for.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said rescue workers would remain at the Port Harcourt site until all victims are recovered, dead or alive.
Head of NEMA’s Port Harcourt Operations Office, Dr. Chidi Ogundu, disclosed that four persons had so far been pulled from the rubble, including one deceased victim and three survivors who were rushed to hospital for treatment.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, Ogundu said the rescue mission was being undertaken through a coordinated effort involving NEMA, other emergency agencies and the Rivers State Government.
“Four people were brought out from the collapsed building — one dead and three alive. The rescue operation will continue until all persons trapped under the rubble are recovered,” he said.
He added that emergency personnel would continue working through Thursday and beyond if necessary to ensure that no victim remained trapped.
The twin incidents in Lagos and Rivers have once again drawn attention to the recurring challenge of building collapses in Nigeria, raising fresh questions about regulatory compliance, construction standards and the enforcement of safety measures across the country’s rapidly expanding urban centres.
While anxious families in Lagos await the commencement of rescue operations, authorities in Rivers say their focus remains on sustaining search-and-recovery efforts until every missing person is found.
