A family narrowly escaped tragedy when the boys’ quarters behind a two-storey building on No 49 Oyinlola Street, Off Adealu Bus Stop, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos State, collapsed on Saturday. Prompt action followed as residents in the area alerted emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), who quickly arrived at the scene.

Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, stated in a Sunday statement that the boys’ quarters collapsed, fortunately without harming any family members. According to him, LASEMA received distress calls around 10:44 pm on Saturday, July 13, 2024, and responded swiftly from its Igando and Cappa bases.

The statement explained, “Upon arrival, it was determined that the boys’ quarters located behind the main two-storey building had collapsed on itself. Thankfully, the single-family residing there had evacuated safely before the collapse. There were no injuries or fatalities reported."

Further investigations revealed that neglect and poor maintenance were likely causes of the collapse. LASEMA conducted public enlightenment to raise awareness about the risks associated with continued occupancy of such buildings.

As a precautionary measure, the main building, consisting of nine rooms downstairs and two upstairs flats, was cordoned off. All occupants were advised to vacate immediately for their safety and the integrity tests recommended by the Material Testing Laboratory for the main building.

The statement concluded, “Due to the inaccessible location of the collapsed boys’ quarters, manual demolition of its remnants is necessary. Additionally, clearing of debris from the collapsed structure is recommended to free up space. Integrity tests are also advised for the main building to assess its structural soundness."

LASEMA Response Teams from Cappa and Igando Base, alongside pre-hospital care teams and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, were on site to manage the situation effectively.