A two-storey building along Obafemi Awolowo Road, Ota-Ona, in Lagos State’s Ikorodu area collapsed on Tuesday, trapping 14 occupants inside.
Rescue teams have since pulled ten people to safety, but one has been confirmed dead, and three remain missing.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency provided an update confirming the recovery of one body from the rubble, while search and rescue efforts continue for those still unaccounted for.
The exact cause of the collapse has not yet been determined.
Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, said the building was an uncompleted structure located behind a bungalow, consisting of two rooms and a parlour built on roughly 648 square meters of land. She confirmed that the 14 occupants were present inside when the building gave way, adding that the rescued men, aged between 28 and 35, had been taken to a hospital for treatment.
Multiple agencies have joined the rescue operation, including the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Road Safety Corps. The collaborative effort underscores the urgency and scale of the response.
Eyewitnesses identified the collapsed building as being opposite the Mobil Filling Station in Ota-Ona. This incident follows a similar tragedy in April, when a three-storey building collapsed at Ojodu Berger, killing five people.
That structure was also under construction at the time and trapped several individuals.
The recent collapse has heightened concerns over construction safety and regulatory oversight in Lagos, prompting calls for stricter enforcement to prevent future disasters.