A three-storey commercial building came down on Thursday morning, June 26, 2026, on Old Ojo Road near Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town, Lagos State, killing four people and trapping an unspecified number of others beneath the rubble.
The collapse occurred at approximately 11:40 a.m., triggering an immediate large-scale emergency response.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Building Control Agency, and the China Railway Construction Corporation Construction Company combined forces to pull at least 20 survivors from the wreckage.
LASEMA Permanent Secretary Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed the death toll and the ongoing rescue in an official statement, warning that the situation on the ground remained fluid.
“There are reports that additional persons, including shop owners who had resumed business, may still be trapped. Search and rescue operations remain active,” the statement read.
Excavator Deployed as Rescue Teams Comb the Rubble
The agency said heavy machinery had been brought in to support what responders described as an active and ongoing operation.
“Heavy-duty equipment, including an excavator, is being deployed to support rescue efforts,” LASEMA said.
The detail about shop owners is significant.
Reports from the scene suggested that some traders had opened for business inside the building before it gave way, which means the number of people caught inside at the time of the collapse may be higher than initially recorded.
Building collapses are a recurring tragedy in Lagos, Nigeria’s most densely populated city.
Many incidents are linked to ageing structures, unauthorised construction, substandard materials, and inadequate enforcement of building codes.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has periodically carried out demolitions and distress building assessments across the state, though critics argue enforcement remains inconsistent.
Meanwhile, LASEMA called on members of the public to stay away from the site and give rescue teams room to work.
“Members of the public are advised to remain calm, avoid the incident scene, and allow emergency responders unrestricted access to carry out life-saving operations,” the agency said.
The death toll may rise as heavy equipment continues to clear the rubble.
Follow JolibaLive News for live updates on the Alakija building collapse and emergency response in Lagos.
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