LAGOS – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that two people died and 20 others were rescued after a two-storey building collapsed on Monday at 54 Cole Street, near Cemetery Bus Stop in the Oyingbo area of Lagos State.
NEMA provided the update on its X handle on Tuesday, noting that its Lagos Operations Office led a coordinated, multi-agency response to distress alerts. Rescue personnel and extrication equipment were promptly deployed to the scene in collaboration with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and other emergency services.
“Upon arrival, emergency teams discovered several occupants trapped beneath the debris,” the agency said. “After several hours of intensive operations, 20 persons were rescued alive, while those with injuries were promptly evacuated to nearby hospitals for treatment. Sadly, two fatalities were confirmed.”
The statement added that all occupants were accounted for following the final phase of the operation and that the search and rescue mission was officially concluded. The site has been cleared under the supervision of the Nigeria Police Force, which also ensured security and crowd control throughout the exercise.
According to NEMA, the collapsed building had previously been marked for demolition by the Lagos State Building Control Agency. However, occupants reportedly ignored evacuation directives prior to the incident.
PUNCH Metro correspondents who visited the scene reported that some residents were aware the structure was at risk. Mrs. Adaeze, a shop owner, said she had received notices from authorities to vacate the building, but the owner did not cooperate. She lamented the loss of goods worth millions of naira that were trapped under the debris and called for government support to mitigate her losses.
Another resident, Habeeb Jamiu, said the collapse occurred shortly after a midnight rainfall. He described hearing the cries of trapped occupants and assisting in the initial rescue efforts before emergency responders arrived. He noted that visible cracks on the building had signaled structural distress.
NEMA commended the professionalism and swift action of all responding agencies and reiterated the importance of complying with official safety and evacuation notices to prevent avoidable loss of life.
