A devastating tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, April 19, 2025, when a three-storey building at 10 Oremeta Street, Ojodu, Lagos, collapsed, claiming five lives and leaving at least fifteen others injured or trapped.
The collapsed structure, which housed the Equal Right Restaurant, came crashing down shortly after 8:30 a.m., triggering panic and confusion in the bustling neighborhood. Witnesses described a sudden, thunderous sound as the building crumbled, trapping restaurant staff, customers, and an entire family beneath layers of rubble.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the fatalities include three adult females and two adult males. So far, six adult women and nine men have been rescued alive from the debris, as emergency teams continue to comb through the wreckage in search of more survivors.
“Rescue operation is ongoing,” confirmed Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator for NEMA, in a statement issued on Sunday, April 20.
An initial report from NEMA indicated that the cause of the collapse is still unknown, although investigations are underway. The building, which had served as both a commercial and residential space, collapsed without warning, sparking fears of poor structural integrity or unauthorized construction practices.
First responders—including officials from NEMA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Police, and the Federal Road Safety Corps—rushed to the scene, pulling survivors from the rubble under precarious conditions.
Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, confirmed that five people had initially been rescued alive on Saturday. That number has since risen as teams worked around the clock to save more lives.
The collapse has left the Ojodu community reeling in shock and mourning, as families of the victims and survivors gather at the scene, hoping for a miracle.
This tragic incident once again highlights Nigeria’s ongoing challenges with building safety compliance, structural integrity, and urban planning oversight, particularly in densely populated areas like Lagos.
Authorities have urged residents to report any signs of structural weakness or unauthorized construction, as they continue investigations into what led to the building’s sudden collapse.
