Another Lagos Building Collapse: Survivor Recounts Horror As Agencies Race Against Time
Barely five days after a building under construction crumbled at Agarawu Street, Lagos Island, tragedy has again struck in the heart of Lagos. This time, a three-storey building located at 14, Oremeta Street, Ojodu-Berger suddenly gave way on Saturday morning, April 19, leaving behind one dead and 12 others rescued, including a survivor who narrowly escaped death by mere minutes.
🧱 “The whole place just blanked out.” — Survivor Shares Chilling Account
One of the survivors, speaking from the trauma centre at Old Toll Gate by 7UP, described how his world turned dark in an instant.
“I spent barely five minutes in the building when it suddenly caved in on us. The whole place just blanked out immediately.”
His voice, frail but filled with disbelief, echoed the unending trauma of many Lagos residents who continue to live with the fear of "just another building collapse."
🚨 Swift Response Saves Lives
Thanks to the rapid response by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and LASEMA, several victims were pulled out alive, with agencies arriving on the scene just moments after the collapse at around 9:30 a.m..
Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, and Fire Service Director, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the swift intervention was crucial to avoiding more casualties.
Also present at the site were teams from LASBCA, NEMA, Nigerian Police, Red Cross, NSCDC, LASAMBUS, and others, who worked tirelessly through the rubble.
📉 OPINION: How Many More Must We Lose Before Lagos Gets It Right?
These recurring incidents beg the haunting question: How many buildings must fall, how many lives must be disrupted, before regulatory authorities stop playing catch-up?
This isn’t the first — and sadly, it may not be the last — unless strict building code enforcement, independent structural audits, and severe consequences for negligence are finally implemented.
The latest collapse is not just a tragedy; it’s a painful reminder that while Lagos rises with beautiful skyscrapers and ambitious projects, basic structural integrity is still a luxury for many residents.
📣 Call to Action
Every building collapse is not just a headline — it’s someone’s home, someone’s loved one buried beneath concrete and forgotten policies. If we truly care, then the next building that rises in Lagos must be safer, stronger, and built with accountability.
Enough is enough.
🧵 Join the conversation using
#LagosCollapse #OjoduBergerTragedy #StopBuildingFailures #UrbanSafetyNow #LASEMA #NaijaDeservesBetter
