KEY POINTS

• Four rescued alive after Yaba building collapse.

• NEMA says search for survivors is ongoing.

• Frequent Lagos collapses linked to weak oversight.

A three-storey building under construction collapsed Friday night at 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji in Yaba, Lagos State.

The incident left several people trapped, prompting an urgent rescue mission led by emergency responders throughout the night.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the collapse, which occurred around 8:30 pm, on its official Saturday statement.

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According to NEMA’s Saturday update, the exact number of people trapped beneath the rubble remains uncertain as operations continue.

Rescue teams have worked continuously, battling debris and time, to ensure survivors are pulled out and taken for treatment.

Eyewitnesses gave conflicting accounts, with some saying six were trapped while others reported five. So far, four adult males have been rescued alive and taken to the hospital for urgent treatment.

Emergency responders from NEMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and other units were swiftly deployed to the site.

Officials cordoned off the building to secure the area and ensure a safe rescue environment. Teams vowed to continue operations through the night, stressing that “no effort will be spared to save lives.”

Frequent collapses raise safety concerns

The Yaba incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of building collapses across Lagos and other Nigerian cities. Investigations over the years have consistently tied such disasters to weak oversight, poor construction practices, and the widespread use of substandard materials.

According to Punch, data from Lagos State authorities and civil society groups show dozens of collapses annually, often resulting in significant loss of life, injuries, and mass displacement. Authorities have repeatedly warned developers against ignoring safety standards, sealing off several non-compliant sites in the past.

Despite these interventions, collapses remain common, underscoring persistent lapses in regulatory enforcement. Residents of Lagos, a city of over 20 million, continue to live with the risk that unsafe structures could turn into sudden death traps.

For those trapped at Alagomeji, the immediate focus is survival as search and rescue operations stretch into the weekend. Officials say only after operations conclude will the full human and structural toll be known.