NEMA confirms one death in Lagos building collapse

One individual has been confirmed deceased following the collapse of a three-storey building in Alagomeji, located in the Yaba area of Lagos State.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in its Day 2 incident report released on Saturday, stated that the body of a male victim was retrieved from the debris during the ongoing search and rescue operations.

An earlier report had indicated that four individuals were rescued alive from the structure that collapsed at approximately 7:46 p.m.

In an update posted on X, NEMA announced, "The search and rescue operation is still ongoing at the site of the building collapse. NEMA, LASEMA, Fire Services, Police, FRSC, and NSCDC are present. The number of individuals rescued remains four; they are in stable condition. No additional individuals have been rescued at the time of this report, but there is speculation regarding two more individuals trapped under the rubble."

In a subsequent update, the agency confirmed that one body had been recovered from the debris, while efforts continue to ensure that no one remains trapped.

"One body (male) has just been recovered from the rubble. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing," NEMA stated.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Fire Service reported that eight construction workers had been rescued from the site of the collapsed building. The incident has once again raised concerns regarding the structural integrity of buildings under construction in Lagos, where numerous such incidents have resulted in fatalities in recent years, despite repeated government warnings and enforcement initiatives.