Five construction workers and several children from an orphanage were rescued yesterday after a building collapsed in the Mangoro area of Lagos.

The incident occurred at 5 Modupe Ola Street, Onipetesi Estate, Agege, where a storey building was being converted into a three-storey structure.
The ongoing construction, reportedly carried out by the owner identified as Emeka, led to the building’s collapse around 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, also damaging two neighbouring buildings.

The injured victims, all male construction workers, sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. An eyewitness, Lucas Light, said the collapse was caused by poor structural planning and lack of proper foundation. “The building was not structurally sound. They were constructing on top of an existing structure, which is dangerous,” he said, accusing the owner of prioritising cost-cutting over safety.

The scene was chaotic as bystanders joined rescue efforts, pulling five people from the rubble before emergency services arrived. Residents said the 20-year-old building had recently been expanded after the owner sold part of the land. The construction also affected the fence of Bosco Child Protection Centre, run by the Salesians of Don Bosco on Beco Street.

An official at the orphanage said some workers were inside the building when it collapsed but managed to escape.The collapse was blamed on substandard materials, poor engineering, and disregard for building regulations.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Adu Ademuyiwa, were unsuccessful as his phone was not reachable at press time.