A tragic building collapse at Oriwu Estate, near Elf Bus Stop along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos, has claimed the lives of four construction workers, while 15 others have been rescued.
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, with reports indicating that more than 30 people were on-site at the time.
According to sources, the building had shown visible signs of structural failure, and authorities had previously issued warnings.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had marked the structure for demolition two weeks prior and instructed workers to vacate, but the directive was ignored.
Eyewitnesses claim that underage workers, some allegedly non-Nigerians, were employed at the site. A local worker stated: “Despite clear warning signs, construction continued, and many workers even slept in the building.”
Rescue efforts led by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) began late Wednesday.
Incident Commander Adedokun Adewale confirmed that 14 people were pulled from the rubble on the first day and taken to Marina General Hospital, while two bodies were recovered.
By Thursday morning, two more bodies were found, and an additional survivor was rescued.
Authorities are awaiting a statement from the site engineer, who is currently hospitalized, to clarify the total number of people present when the structure collapsed.
An eyewitness, Bartholomew Jacob, described the scene: “Over 30 workers were inside when the building gave way. Some victims were unrecognizable due to the extent of the damage.”
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the collapse and hold those responsible accountable.
