By Ibrahim Kegbegbe, Lagos
A tragic building collapse on Saturday morning, April 19, 2025, left several people feared dead and many others trapped under rubble in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos State. The incident occurred at a structure housing the well-known Equal Right Restaurant, located along Oremeta Street.
The three-storey building, reportedly under construction but already partially in use, crumbled around 8:00 a.m., sending shockwaves through the densely populated neighborhood. Eyewitnesses said the collapse was sudden, giving occupants and passersby little or no time to escape.
“It happened in a split second. People were inside eating and working. We heard a loud crack and then everything just came down,” said Adewale Shittu, a local resident and commercial motorcyclist who was among the first responders at the scene.
Emergency personnel from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Nigeria Police Force, and the Red Cross swiftly mobilized to the site. Rescue operations continued throughout the day as responders searched frantically for survivors amidst the wreckage.
Although the official casualty figure was yet to be confirmed at press time, residents and workers in the area reported that at least a dozen individuals were inside the building at the time of the collapse.
The Equal Right Restaurant had been a popular spot in the community, frequented by locals and visitors alike. However, concerns had previously been raised about the structural integrity of the building. A nearby shop owner, who asked not to be named, said, “We’ve been worried about that building for a while. They were still constructing the upper floors while the ground floor was open for business.”
This incident adds to a disturbing pattern of building collapses in Lagos, often attributed to poor construction practices, substandard materials, and weak regulatory enforcement. According to data from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Nigeria recorded over 40 building collapse incidents in 2024 alone, with Lagos accounting for more than half.
The Merit Newspaper gathered that the construction of the building had faced several warnings from local community leaders and some members of the Ojodu-Berger Residents Association, who had repeatedly questioned the safety of mixing ongoing construction with business operations on the ground floor. Some residents alleged that the owners ignored professional advice and continued the construction without securing final approvals from relevant authorities.
One anonymous source within the association claimed, “The developer was told to stop work several times. The building was marked for inspection by the planning authority, but no follow-up action was ever taken. It’s a failure on all sides.”
In response to Saturday’s collapse, the Lagos State government has ordered a full investigation to determine the cause of the tragedy and assess potential negligence. Officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development were seen at the site assessing the damage and collecting preliminary data.
“The safety of lives and properties remains paramount to this administration. We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable,” said Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, Commissioner for Physical Planning, while addressing the press.
The Ojodu-Berger incident serves as yet another grim reminder of the urgent need for stricter enforcement of building regulations and improved urban planning in Nigeria’s fast-growing cities.
As rescue efforts continue, families and loved ones of those trapped remain in agony, praying for a miracle. Authorities have called on volunteers with medical skills and equipment to support the rescue operations, while residents hope this tragedy spurs real action to prevent future occurrences.
