A major tragedy was averted on Monday, March 9, 2026, when a four-storey building housing Yemco Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College in the Ogba area of Lagos collapsed shortly after a total evacuation.
Authorities confirmed that 368 students and dozens of staff members were moved to safety just three minutes before the structure, located on Adu Street, came crashing down.
The incident has triggered widespread calls for stricter building inspections across the state.
Witnesses say the disaster was avoided thanks to bricklayers who were working on the ground floor.
The workers noticed strange vibrations and cracks appearing in real-time. They immediately alerted the school’s management, who ordered everyone to leave the building at once.
“They marched 368 students out of the school building,” one emotional mother said in a viral video, describing the moment her twins were led to safety. “If not for that warning, it would have been a national tragedy.”
Emergency responders from LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene by 12:25 p.m. While no one was killed, several students were treated for minor injuries and shock caused by the hurried escape.
Lagos State Launches Safety Probe
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has now sealed the site and ordered residents of nearby buildings to relocate temporarily.
Preliminary findings suggest that renovation work was being done on the building without proper government approval.
“The agency gave the school management early warnings and notices, and they abided by the advice,” said Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA.
He clarified that while the evacuation was successful, the government is investigating why the building was in such a “distressed” state.
Experts warn that this incident highlights a recurring problem with older structures in Lagos. They are urging property owners to conduct regular integrity tests, especially for buildings used as schools or residential apartments.
This video provides an on-the-scene report of the collapse and the official government response regarding the safety of other buildings in the Ogba neighborhood.
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