In a shocking and terrifying event early Monday morning, a 2-storey building on Amusu Street in Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, collapsed, sending waves of panic throughout the city. Captured on video and rapidly spreading across social media, the footage shows residents running for their lives as the building crumbled to the ground. Miraculously, no lives were lost, sparking disbelief and relief across the community.
The incident, which occurred around 8 AM on October 14, 2024, has once again drawn attention to the troubling issue of building collapses in Lagos, a city plagued by rapid and often poorly regulated construction. But despite the potential for disaster, the swift evacuation of the building before it gave way saved countless lives.
Eyewitnesses and emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that there were no fatalities. Mr. Nosa Okunbor, Head of LASEMA’s Public Affairs Unit, stated, “People are there right now; I will get back to you,” assuring the public that search-and-rescue teams were on the scene, combing the wreckage to ensure no one was trapped.
The viral video of the collapse shows clouds of dust filling the air as panicked residents sprinted to safety. Social media erupted with the footage, sparking widespread relief that a catastrophe had been averted. “It’s nothing short of a miracle,” commented one user on X, while another wrote, “Thank God nobody died, but this keeps happening. We need stricter laws to stop these deaths waiting to happen.”
The near-tragedy has reignited concerns over building standards in Lagos, with many pointing fingers at the lax enforcement of construction codes and poor-quality materials often used in developments. This incident comes on the heels of several deadly building collapses in Nigeria, including the infamous 2021 high-rise collapse in Ikoyi that claimed 42 lives.
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Residents and activists are calling for immediate action, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the systemic issues that lead to such incidents. “How many more lives must be at risk before something changes?” asked a local resident. The sentiment was echoed by many who voiced their frustration on social media, demanding accountability and stricter enforcement of safety regulations.
Although no official cause of the collapse has been confirmed, authorities are expected to investigate the structural integrity of the building and potential construction faults. The collapse is yet another reminder of the critical need for safer construction practices in Lagos, where unregulated development poses a constant threat to the city’s millions of residents.
As Lagos continues its rapid expansion, incidents like this underscore the fragile balance between growth and safety. The Orile-Iganmu community, now left with the rubble of what could have been a deadly disaster, joins the growing demand for better oversight and enforcement of building safety laws.
