By Bamike Folorunsho
The Lagos State Government has launched an investigation into the tragic collapse of a three-storey building on Oremeta Street in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos. The building, which housed the well-known Equal Right Restaurant and Bar, collapsed at around 9 a.m. on Saturday, trapping workers, customers, and a family of three inside.
At least two people were confirmed dead in the incident, while 24 others were rescued from the rubble as of the latest report. Lagos State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed that the building’s owner would face legal consequences. “There is a procedure if there is any building collapse. The state government will find out how it happened, and the law will take its course,” Omotoso said in an interview with Sunday PUNCH.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that an investigation is underway. “Two dead, 24 rescued. Investigation is ongoing,” Hundeyin stated.
Emergency responders from various agencies, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Police, were seen working at the scene, helping with rescue operations. While workers cleared debris and transported rubble away from the site, onlookers gathered, offering prayers for those still trapped inside.
Residents of the area revealed that the building had been abandoned and incomplete for over a decade. Recently, construction had resumed on the top floor, just before the collapse. “The ground floor was being used for a bar, eatery, and parking lot, but the upper floors weren’t occupied,” said local resident Akin Popoola.
One of the restaurant’s disc jockeys, who narrowly escaped, shared his experience. He noticed falling debris and tried to alert others. “I told the bricklayer, but he dismissed it. I rushed upstairs to warn people, but some didn’t listen. I quickly left with a few others just before the building collapsed,” he recalled.
A family of three, including a man, his wife, and their child, were in the restaurant at the time of the collapse and were about to leave when the building fell on their vehicle. A restaurant worker, 22-year-old Ayomide Adebola, was trapped inside. Her sister, who rushed to the scene, tearfully spoke of the difficulty of learning her sibling was still trapped under the rubble.
Witnesses also described a customer who had stepped outside to withdraw money moments before the collapse, leaving his brother trapped inside.
Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, confirmed that eight people had been rescued by the time emergency teams arrived, and one of them had been taken to the hospital for further treatment. “Thankfully, no fatalities have been recorded yet,” he said. However, he warned that more victims might still be buried under the rubble, and rescue operations were being carried out cautiously to avoid further harm.
Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Shakiru Amodu, emphasized the risks of leaving buildings abandoned or unoccupied for extended periods. “The upper floors looked abandoned. Leaving buildings unoccupied is risky because they can deteriorate over time and suddenly collapse,” Amodu cautioned.
The investigation continues as authorities seek answers, while the community mourns the lives lost in this preventable tragedy.
