The Lagos State Government has launched an investigation into the collapse of a school building on Adu Street in the Aguda area of Ogba.
The four-storey structure, which housed both residential occupants and a private school, collapsed on Monday, according to the Lagos State Building Control Agency.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Adu Ademuyiwa, confirmed that no fatalities were recorded because the building had already been evacuated before the incident occurred.
“The building, which accommodated both residential occupants and a private school, collapsed on Monday, causing concern within the neighbourhood,” the statement said.
“No casualties were recorded as students, staff and other occupants had exited the building before the incident occurred.”
Officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and other emergency responders visited the scene shortly after the collapse to assess the situation and ensure public safety.
As a precaution, residents of nearby buildings were advised to temporarily vacate their homes while safety inspections were carried out on surrounding structures to determine their stability.
“As part of precautionary measures, occupants of nearby buildings were advised to vacate their premises temporarily while safety assessments are being conducted on surrounding structures to determine their condition and structural stability,” the statement added.
Initial findings by LASBCA revealed that the building had undergone renovation work prior to the collapse.
“However, a comprehensive investigation is currently underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the collapse,” the agency stated.
Authorities also urged property owners and developers to follow regulatory procedures when carrying out construction or renovation work, stressing the importance of engaging building control authorities during such projects.
According to reports, some pupils from the affected school — Yemco Daycare Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College — were taken to hospital after sustaining injuries during the evacuation process.
Residents said the building collapsed at about 11 a.m., shortly after a crack was noticed on one of the walls.
A neighbour, Femi Aderoju, said a fashion designer in the area was the first to notice the crack and immediately alerted residents and school authorities.
According to him, the building collapsed minutes after teachers evacuated the pupils from the structure.
A member of staff at the school, who spoke anonymously, said teachers quickly conducted a head count after evacuating the pupils to ensure no one remained trapped inside the building.
Residents also reported that renovation work had been ongoing on the ground floor before the collapse.
Another resident, Ajibola Salami, suggested that the renovation activities might have contributed to the structural crack that led to the building’s collapse.
Officials from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASBCA and other emergency responders were present at the site during the incident, while surrounding buildings within the same compound were evacuated and sealed off pending safety evaluations.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the collapse and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
