Students of Yemco Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College in the Ogba area of Lagos have described their frightening experience after part of a classroom block collapsed within the school premises on Monday.

The incident occurred around 11 a.m., triggering panic among students and teachers who rushed out of the building as the structure gave way.

Although no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded, the sudden collapse caused chaos within the school compound as students scrambled to escape the scene.

The affected building is located along Adudatu Street, behind County Hospital in the Aguda area of Ogba.

Students recount terrifying moment

Some of the students present during the incident said they heard unusual sounds shortly before the building came down.

A student identified as Emmanuel said he was in class when he suddenly heard a loud cracking noise.

According to him, dust quickly filled the air as the structure collapsed, forcing students to run for safety.

“I was in class when I heard a loud cracking sound. The next thing we saw was dust everywhere. We were out for lunch when it happened. I ran as fast as I could into another classroom block,” he said.

Another student, Blessing, said the collapse created fear among students who were unsure if other buildings in the compound might also be affected.

She explained that thick dust filled the air immediately after the incident, causing many students to rush out of the school premises.

“I thought it might affect other classrooms, so I ran out of the school compound as fast as I could,” she said.

The school population is estimated to be between 600 and 800 students.

Authorities say building was marked for demolition

Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the collapse occurred during a controlled demolition of the distressed structure.

An official of the agency, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said students had already been evacuated before the demolition exercise began.

Shakiru Amodu of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later confirmed that the building had earlier shown signs of structural distress.

According to him, authorities had marked the structure for demolition after identifying safety concerns.

“The affected building had earlier shown signs of distress and was marked for demolition. All the students had been evacuated before the exercise began, so no one was injured and no life was lost,” he said.

Emergency teams secure the scene

Following the incident, officials of the state rescue team cordoned off the premises and restricted access to the affected area.

Residents in the neighbourhood said concerns had previously been raised about the building after parts of the roof reportedly began falling off.

Authorities have since secured the scene while further assessments are being carried out.

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The Lagos State House of Assembly has expressed concern over the growing number of fire outbreaks and building collapses across the state, calling for stronger safety enforcement and faster emergency response.

Lawmakers urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to convene a stakeholders’ meeting with agencies like the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASEMA, LASAMBUS, and others to develop a long-term strategy for disaster prevention.

They also called for full operational capacity at fire stations in Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe, and demanded the installation of functional fire hydrants in all commercial buildings.

Hon. Rauf Age-Suleimon (Amuwo-Odofin 2) praised the government’s efforts to upgrade fire services but warned that “the unlawful conversion of public and residential spaces into markets and commercial areas has put additional pressure on emergency response.”

Lawmakers blamed repeated disasters on poor regulation, non-compliance with safety laws, and use of substandard building materials.

“These factors continue to pose real risks to lives and property in our state,” members noted, citing recent fatal incidents at Atunan Toa and Ema Plaza.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa called for stricter enforcement of safety standards and urged the Fire and Rescue Service to “conduct regular fire risk assessments in markets, public spaces, and high-risk buildings.”

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