Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has completed search, rescue, and recovery operations at the site of a collapsed two-storey building near Alakija Bus Stop in Satellite Town, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, rescuing 27 survivors and recovering nine bodies. The building collapsed around 12:47 p.m. on Thursday, triggering a swift emergency response. LASEMA confirmed that all rescue efforts concluded by 4:00 a.m. on Friday, after emergency teams successfully reached ground zero and cleared the debris.
Emergency response teams were mobilised immediately following distress alerts. LASEMA’s Sharks Response Team from the Lekki Base and the Alpha Cobra Squad from Onipanu arrived at the scene within 40 minutes, joined by multiple agencies including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Red Cross, and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
All 27 rescued individuals received immediate medical attention from LASAMBUS officials before being transported to nearby hospitals for further treatment. Among the nine fatalities, four adults were confirmed dead before rescue teams arrived, while five others, including a two-year-old girl, were recovered during the operation. The remains of the deceased were handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for identification and release to their families.
Heavy-duty equipment played a critical role in the rescue mission. LASEMA’s excavator operated alongside two machines provided by CCECC, allowing rescue workers to access trapped victims safely and efficiently. The Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, along with the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, supervised the entire operation to ensure coordination and effectiveness.
In response to the incident, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed LASBCA to conduct immediate integrity tests on all buildings adjacent to the collapsed structure. The agency is also tasked with enforcing strict compliance with building regulations in the area to prevent future tragedies. LASEMA expressed deep sympathy to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a full and speedy recovery.
The agency urged residents to report any distressed or unsafe buildings to LASBCA or through LASEMA’s emergency toll-free lines, 112 and 767, to help avoid similar incidents. This tragic event highlights the importance of regular building inspections and public vigilance in ensuring safety in urban areas. The government’s swift action and multi-agency collaboration underscore a commitment to improving emergency response and structural safety in Lagos.
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