Building Under Construction Collapses in Yaba, Rescuers Pull Out Survivors

A three-storey building under construction collapsed on Friday night, September 12, 2025, at 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed.

According to a statement posted on its X handle on Saturday, the incident occurred around 8:30 pm, leaving several people trapped beneath the rubble.

While eyewitness reports differed—some claiming six people were trapped and others five—emergency responders successfully rescued four adult males, who were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.

NEMA disclosed that the exact number of those still trapped remains unconfirmed. However, teams from NEMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and other responders swiftly mobilised to the site and commenced intensive search and rescue operations.

The agency added that the area has been cordoned off to ensure safety and facilitate rescue efforts, which continued into the night with assurances that no effort would be spared to save lives.

Building collapses are frequent in Lagos and other Nigerian cities, often linked to substandard construction practices, poor-quality materials, and weak regulatory enforcement. Official data and reports from civil society organisations indicate that dozens of such incidents occur annually, resulting in casualties and displacement.

Authorities in Lagos have repeatedly cautioned developers against unsafe practices, with several buildings previously sealed for non-compliance.