Lagos evacuates occupants of four-storey building over fear of collapse

The Lagos State Government has evacuated residents and business owners from a distressed four-storey building on Lagos Island after officials discovered serious structural defects that could lead to a building collapse and endanger lives and property.

The evacuation was carried out by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, at the building located at No. 10 Dogara Street, Lagos Island, following a routine inspection and structural assessment by officials of the agency.

According to LASBCA, the inspection revealed major signs of structural failure, including severe differential foundation settlement, doors that could no longer close properly, extensive cracks on major structural components, spilling of reinforced concrete slabs, exposed reinforcement bars in both slabs and columns, as well as a badly weakened foundation.

The agency said the defects made the building unsafe for continued occupation.

As a result of the findings, LASBCA immediately evacuated all residents and shop owners from the premises as a precautionary measure to prevent possible loss of lives and damage to property in the event of a structural collapse.

Speaking on the development, the General Manager of LASBCA, Bldr. Gbaye Florence, said the agency’s swift intervention helped avert what could have been a major disaster, protecting not only those occupying the building but also neighbouring properties that could have been affected if the structure collapsed.

She reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to protecting lives and property through proactive building control measures, stressing that public safety remains the agency’s highest priority.

The General Manager also appealed to residents to support the agency by promptly reporting buildings showing signs of structural distress, including visible cracks, excessive deflection, foundation settlement or any other indication of structural instability.

“Early reporting and timely intervention remain critical to preventing avoidable building collapse incidents across the state,” she said.  

LASBCA also assured residents that it would continue to strengthen routine inspections, monitoring and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with building safety standards and promote a safer built environment across Lagos State.