At least eight people, including an infant girl, have died following the collapse of a three-storey shopping complex in the Alakija area along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, while emergency responders have rescued 26 others from the rubble.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the latest casualty figures on Thursday, saying search and rescue operations remained underway amid fears that more people could still be trapped beneath the debris.
“As of 4:20 p.m., a total of 26 persons have been rescued alive, while eight fatalities have been recorded, including a baby girl. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
The Lagos building collapse occurred earlier on Thursday at the shopping complex, which housed several businesses.
The incident triggered a rapid multi-agency emergency response involving the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and other emergency responders.
Officials said rescue teams worked through the day using heavy-duty equipment, including an excavator, to gain access to sections of the collapsed structure while carefully searching for survivors.
Earlier in the operation, emergency authorities reported lower casualty figures. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service initially confirmed that 16 people had been rescued alive while two bodies had been recovered.
Controller of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said emergency personnel remained committed to accounting for everyone affected by the disaster.
“Rescue efforts are still ongoing, and six additional victims have been successfully rescued from the debris, bringing the number to 16. Regrettably, two people have been recovered dead.
Emergency responders remain on the scene, working tirelessly to ensure that all affected persons are accounted for and to safeguard the area,” Adeseye said.
Authorities urged members of the public to stay away from the scene to allow rescue workers unrestricted access as the delicate operation continues.
The latest Lagos building collapse adds to growing concerns over structural failures in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Building collapses have remained a recurring challenge in Lagos despite stricter regulatory measures, prompting repeated calls for improved compliance with building standards, routine inspections and stronger enforcement by regulatory agencies.
Earlier this month, a three-storey building under construction partially collapsed in Lekki Phase 1, leaving one person dead and several others injured, according to emergency officials.
Investigations into the cause of Thursday’s collapse are expected to begin once search and recovery operations have been completed.
Ibrahim Onipede is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
