The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that a three-storey building still under construction collapsed on Friday night, September 12, 2025, at 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos State.
In a post on its official X account on Saturday, NEMA reported that the incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m., trapping several people under the rubble.
Witness accounts differed on the number of those initially trapped, with some claiming six and others five. However, emergency workers have so far rescued four adult men alive and taken them to a hospital for medical care.
Teams from NEMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other first responders quickly mobilised to the scene to commence search and rescue efforts.
According to NEMA, the actual number of people still trapped has not been determined, but operations to find and evacuate survivors are continuing. Authorities have cordoned off the site to ensure safety and allow rescue operations to proceed without disruption.
Officials said the search and rescue exercise would continue into the night, assuring the public that every effort is being made to save lives.
Incidents of building collapse remain common in Lagos and other Nigerian cities, often linked to substandard materials, poor construction methods and weak regulatory oversight. Data from the state government and civil society organisations indicate that dozens of such cases occur annually, resulting in loss of lives, injuries and displacement.
The Lagos State government has repeatedly cautioned developers against unsafe practices, sealing several structures in the past for non-compliance.
