Tragedy struck on Wednesday evening when a three-storey building collapsed at Oriwu Estate, Elf Bus Stop, inward Ajah, along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos. Four construction workers have been confirmed dead, while 15 persons were rescued from the rubble.
Eyewitnesses report that children were employed by the site engineer, with over 30 persons on-site at the time of the incident. The cause of the collapse is yet to be ascertained, but it is alleged that the building owner ignored several warning signs prior to the incident.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had marked the building two weeks earlier and instructed workers to vacate the site. However, this directive was ignored, and construction workers continued their activities, even sleeping in the building.
“There were clear warning signs that the building was faulty. LASBCA marked the building, but the engineer deployed more workers. Many of the workers were underage boys, and they are not Nigerians,” said an anonymous worker in the area.
Adedokun Adewale, On-scene Incident Commander of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos Operations, explained, “We received the report late in the evening and discovered the incident occurred at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.”
“We responded alongside Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), the Nigeria Police Force, and other stakeholders. Fourteen persons were rescued on the day of the incident and taken to Marina General Hospital. Two bodies were recovered that evening, while two more were found yesterday morning, and an additional person was rescued alive.”
The site engineer, who is currently hospitalized, is expected to provide the exact number of workers present at the site once he recovers.
Bartholomew Jacob, an eyewitness, stated, “Over 30 people were in the building when it collapsed. Many of those recovered could not be recognized.”