A two-storey building collapsed on Cole Street, Oyingbo, Lagos, trapping several occupants as rescue teams raced against time to save lives.
Tragedy struck in the early hours of Monday when a two-storey building on Cole Street, Oyingbo, Lagos, collapsed, leaving several residents trapped beneath the debris. Rescue operations are ongoing as emergency teams work tirelessly to save lives and clear the rubble.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident, stating that the ill-fated structure, located at 54 Cole Street near Cemetery Bus Stop, gave way shortly after midnight.
According to the agency’s Director, Margaret Adeseye, a distress call was received around 12:20 a.m., prompting the immediate deployment of the Sari-Iganmu Fire Station rescue team to the scene.
“It is an ongoing rescue involving an existing two-storey building which has reportedly been marked in distress before collapsing on the occupants,” Adeseye said in the official statement.
So far, 15 people — including seven men, four women, and four children — have been rescued with varying degrees of injuries. They were swiftly transported to the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, and the General Hospital, Odan (Lagos Island) for urgent medical attention.
As of the time of filing this report, rescue operations remain ongoing, with first responders, including personnel from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Fire Service, and local volunteers, combing through the wreckage in search of survivors.
Initial reports suggest that the building had been previously marked as distressed, highlighting ongoing concerns about the state of structural safety in densely populated areas of Lagos.
Building collapses have become a recurring nightmare in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub. Despite efforts by authorities to enforce building codes, several tragedies continue to occur due to sub-standard materials, weak regulatory enforcement, and poor maintenance culture.
The most devastating in recent memory remains the Ikoyi building collapse of November 2021, where a luxury high-rise under construction crumbled, claiming at least 42 lives. More recently, in September 2025, a four-storey structure under construction in Yaba also collapsed, killing and injuring several people.
Urban planners and safety experts have repeatedly urged the government to strengthen building inspections and enforce compliance, emphasizing that prevention is the only sustainable way to end the cycle of recurring collapses.
As Lagos continues to grapple with recurring building failures, Monday’s collapse once again underscores the urgent need for stricter monitoring, enforcement, and accountability. For residents of Oyingbo, the tragedy is a painful reminder that the price of negligence is often paid in human lives.
Join the conversation — what practical measures do you think can stop recurring building collapses in Lagos? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and follow for updates on the ongoing rescue operation.
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Lagos building collapse, Oyingbo news, building safety Nigeria, Lagos Fire Service, Renewed Hope Agenda, Lagos rescue, Nigeria infrastructure, Margaret Adeseye
