Collapse of 4-storey Building in Yaba Negates Efforts to Shield Area from Building Collapse Menace in Lagos, Says BCPG

. Calls for sophisticated equipment for search and rescue

Bennett Oghifo

The collapse of a four-storey building under construction at 335, Borno Way, Yaba, Lagos State at about 7 pm on Friday, 12th September, 2025, negated efforts to protect the Yaba area from the ravaging building collapse menace in the state, the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has said.

They noted that the rescue operations that stretched for four days, precisely from Friday night to Monday, helped save 10 lives. Sadly four dead bodies were recovered. 

The last two of the dead construction workers were recovered on Sunday, dashing the hope of saving the lives of those who were making frantic phone calls from underneath the rubbles to their family members.

“This was a terrible and painful way of ending one’s mission in the world,” the Guild said.

They, consequently, urged the government to procure more sophisticated equipment to speed-up search and rescue operations.

“However, the need to introduce sophisticated plant and equipment for rescue operations in collapsed buildings cannot be overemphasised.

“With improved technology, a rescue process should be able to bring out swiftly those trapped in the collapsed building with less damage to physical evidence required for investigations.

“It was enervating as we monitored the prolonged rescue process using the excavator, cutting machine, diggers, and shovels,” they said.

The Guild gave their expert opinion of what they determined could have caused the collapse in a statement titled, ‘Protecting Yaba From The Menace Of Building Collapse In Lagos State’. It was signed by the Coordinator, BCPG Yaba Cell, Engr. Bayo Ogunrinde, and the General Secretary, BCPG Yaba Cell, Bldr. Funmi Olaitan.

Giving an eye witness account, they said, “A mother fainted while awaiting the dead body of her son trapped in the debris. 

“Against all expectations, on Monday, about 65 hours after being buried underneath the collapsed building, her son, Anuoluwa, and another artisan were pulled out of the soakaway alive. How they were able to survive for long under the debris seemed a miracle. The melancholy atmosphere suddenly transformed into ecstasy.”

They commended the performance of the staff of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Lagos State Ambulance Service and the police that were deprived of sleep, working round the clock in the rescue operation.

According to them, a similarity could be drawn between this latest collapsed building and another that collapsed at 16, Akanbi Street, Onike, Yaba on 12th February, 2022. “That building, which was located close to the University of Lagos and meant for students’ hostel, was of four storeys under construction at the finishing stage. The death of four persons (construction workers) was recorded.

“The collapse of these two buildings just before they were occupied averted a possible large toll of casualties. Divine afflatus!”

BCPG said, “The compulsory project board that usually displays the information about the project team members got missing after the collapse at the Borno Way just like it happened at Akanbi Crescent.”

They said, “The developer of this 335 Borno Way four – storey building, Mr. Tajudeen, AKA Aljemin, was inside the building when it collapsed and, luckily, got rescued. He is in the hospital under the protection of the police.

“The moral lesson here for errant developers is for them to always abide by building regulations. The consequence for compromise could be fatal for them.”

The collapse of the 4-storey building against the neighbouring 5-storey building at 333, Borno Way, “Severely damaging a load-bearing column positioned at the building corner, provides us two lessons. 

“Firstly, the essence of providing adequate setbacks or air space between two buildings can now be appreciated. 

“Secondly, this sideways collapse of the building underscores the need for occupants of a building to pay attention to building construction work in the neighbouring compounds. The LASBCA mantra of ‘see something, say something’ requires one to be alive to whisle – blowing by alerting LASBCA when building regulations are suspected of being violated. 

“The damaged building, which is currently being shored up with acrow props, should quickly be stabilised with concrete column(s). The result of a non destructive test that is to be conducted on the damaged building will help verify the stability of the building.

“Speculations are rife that the piling foundation recently executed at the adjourning compound, 337A, Borno Way induced some cracks in the building that collapsed. It was alleged that a secret remedial work was  administered on the cracked column(s) before the eventual collapse of the building.”

Also, they alleged that a stop – work order /notice issued by LASBCA and dated Monday, 1st September, 2025 was pasted on the gate-house at 337A, Borno Way, indicating that the building being constructed contravened building regulations: (1) Inadequate left airspace, and (2) Building beyond approval granted. Stage of work: Ground floor slab. 

“In order to avert substandard construction work in Lagos State, stage certification of work by registered construction professionals was introduced. The collapsed building must have undergone such a process. An official forensic investigation of this collapsed building is expected to establish the factual cause (s) of the collapsed building, which will help teach a lesson against recurrence,” they said.

The statement said, “Members of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild in Yaba commiserate with the bereaved. Our sympathy also goes to the paramount ruler, the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe, HRM Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi. The king is so passionate about preserving the sanctity of Yaba as a well-planned area with buildings constructed to standards since the colonial era.

“Yaba is considered the citadel of elites, the well-educated and law-abiding citizens. Cases of building collapse were few in Yaba and redevelopment of existing buildings to multi-storey buildings by developers started this problem. 

“Regeneration is an important aspect of urban development. However,  developers that should be engaged for this exercise must have sufficient funds and use consultants and  construction companies possessing appropriate expertise. 

“Restricting the influx of uncertified developers into the Yaba area will help prevent the construction of substandard buildings. 

“The onus is now on the new Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Hon. Bayo Adefuye to put in place a stakeholders meeting with the children and grandchildren of the original owners of the solidly constructed residential houses that are now being committed into the hands of developers for regeneration.

“The inheritors should be counselled on the implications of not engaging qualified developers for the development of the family property. Such a landed property might be forfeited to the government in an incident of building collapse.”

They said relevant ministries, agencies, and departments such as the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ministry of Housing, LASBCA, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, Safety Commission, Built Environment professional Bodies, Developers Associations and artisans should be involved in the stakeholders’ meeting.