A devastating three-storey building collapse in the Alakija area of Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos, has once again thrown the metropolitan state into mourning, leaving nine people dead and obliterating several local businesses. Amid the rubble and heartbreak, survivors are sharing harrowing accounts of their narrow escapes while pointing to the high cost of ignoring clear structural warning signs.
For Kenneth Nwabueze, a business owner operating inside the ill-fated building, the fateful Thursday started like any other busy workday. Nwabueze had arrived at his shop early to finalize an order for a client. A series of sudden, unexpected adjustments to his schedule ultimately saved his life. A client preparing for her father’s burial arrived earlier than scheduled to collect her items, prompting Nwabueze to step out of the premises to make a swift delivery.
“Within five minutes of leaving, I received a phone call that our building had collapsed,” Nwabueze recalled. “My heart skipped a beat, and I ran back immediately. While rushing back, my secretary called me from under the debris, crying that they were trapped and needed immediate help.”
Upon returning to the scene, Nwabueze was able to direct rescue teams to where his staff and clients were trapped. While emergency responders successfully extracted the secretary, the client, and her infant child from the rubble, Nwabueze’s young apprentice did not survive. The teenager, who commuted daily to the workshop from his family home, was among the nine victims who lost their lives in the structural failure.
Fatal Delays and Unheeded Warning Signs
According to survivors, the tragedy was entirely preventable. Visible cracks had compromised the walls of the three-storey structure a week prior to the disaster, and the landlord had been formally notified of the imminent danger.
However, instead of ordering an immediate evacuation or conducting emergency reinforcement, the landlord reportedly delayed action due to bureaucratic processes. He informed the tenants that carrying out major structural renovations in Lagos State legally required official government approval. While the landlord had reportedly paid for the renovation permit a few days before the collapse, the official approval was not processed in time to prevent the catastrophe.
The Cost of Valuing Wealth Over Safety
Jeffrey Okoro, a neighboring shop owner who also witnessed the horror, echoed the grief of the Alakija business community. He emphasized that while machinery and inventory can be purchased again, the human lives lost are gone forever.
This latest disaster highlights a recurring issue in Lagos, where structural failures continue to threaten lives in densely populated areas. In the wake of the tragedy, survivors are urging the public to take structural anomalies seriously and prioritize safety over financial considerations.
“There are major lessons to learn from this,” Nwabueze warned. “You must prioritize your life over riches and wealth. If you see signs of danger, do not wait for promises of renovation. Your life is far more valuable than any business.”