Lagos Building Collapse: Victims Ignored Quit Notice Before Tragedy, Says LASEMA Source

Victims of the building collapse along Adeniji Adele Road in the Isale Eko area of Lagos Island had reportedly been served a quit notice but chose to remain in the structure despite warnings, a source at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has revealed.

The building collapsed in the early hours of Thursday, injuring several occupants and prompting a swift response from emergency agencies, including the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Nigeria Police Force, and other rescue teams.

According to a LASEMA official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the building had long been identified as distressed and was marked for demolition by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

“The building was defused and marked by LASBCA long before the collapse. Our investigations show that the tenants were served quit notices, but they refused to vacate,” the official said.

Another agency official confirmed that, as of the time of reporting, no one remained trapped in the rubble, although manual excavation was still ongoing due to the building’s proximity to others.

“You know how closely packed houses are on Lagos Island. That’s why we couldn’t immediately use heavy equipment. But for now, no one is trapped,” the source explained.

In a statement shared via its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, LASTMA confirmed that those rescued from the collapsed structure had been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

“There is a report of an overnight collapsed building along Adeniji Adele Road at Isale Eko. LASTMA personnel, emergency responders, and police are on ground. Traffic is currently not affected as our personnel are managing the situation. Victims have been rescued and taken for medical care,” the statement read.

While the exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed, search and rescue operations continue at the site.

To manage traffic in the area, LASTMA announced diversions and urged motorists to follow alternate routes.

“Traffic has been redirected from Zenith back through Oba’s Palace, with Enu Owa now serving as the main alternative route,” the agency added.