A three-storey building under construction collapsed on Friday night, September 12, 2025, at 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos State, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
In a statement posted on its X handle Saturday, NEMA confirmed the incident occurred around 8:30 pm, trapping several people under the rubble.
While eyewitness reports differ—some claiming six people were trapped, others five—rescue teams have so far pulled out four adult males alive and rushed them to a hospital for treatment.
Emergency responders from NEMA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and other agencies quickly mobilised to the scene and launched search-and-rescue operations. Officials said the exact number of those still trapped remains unclear, but efforts are ongoing to locate survivors.
Authorities have cordoned off the site to ensure safety as operations continue into the night. “No effort will be spared to save lives,” NEMA assured.
Building collapses remain frequent in Lagos and other Nigerian cities, often blamed on substandard construction, weak regulatory enforcement, and the use of poor-quality materials. Civil society groups and government data indicate dozens of such tragedies occur annually, leading to fatalities, injuries, and displacement.
Despite repeated government warnings and the sealing of non-compliant structures, unsafe building practices continue to fuel the recurring crisis.
Photo: Emergency responders rescue victims from the collapsed three-storey building at Borno Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos State. Credit: NEMA
