By our reporter
Tragedy struck on Wednesday morning when a three-storey residential building collapsed at Asesi Lane, off Adeniji Adele Road in the Isale Eko area of Lagos Island, leaving several residents injured and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
Eyewitnesses say the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, catching many occupants unaware and trapping others beneath the rubble. Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the fire service, and other rescue units arrived swiftly at the scene, pulling at least four individuals out of the debris. The rescued victims have since been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
According to distressed tenants, the collapse may have been preventable. Many residents allege that the building had shown signs of structural weakness for months, and they had repeatedly raised concerns. However, they claim those warnings were ignored by a relative of the landlord, who they accuse of overseeing the property in the landlord’s absence.
“The cracks on the walls kept widening. We reported it many times, but nothing was done. We believe the landlord’s brother refused to act because he didn’t want to spend money on repairs,” a visibly shaken resident said.
The collapse has drawn renewed attention to the recurring issue of building safety in Lagos, particularly in densely populated areas like Lagos Island. Experts have long warned that the combination of poor construction practices, lack of maintenance, and failure to enforce building codes continues to put lives at risk.
Officials have cordoned off the area as search and rescue operations continue. Structural engineers are also expected to assess neighboring buildings to ensure they are not at risk of collapse.
This latest incident adds to a worrying trend of building failures in Lagos State, underscoring the urgent need for stricter regulatory enforcement and regular structural assessments to prevent further tragedies.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the cause of the collapse or potential legal action against the property managers. However, investigations are ongoing.
