By Parrot Newspaper Lagos Tragedy: Many Feared Trapped as Building Collapses
By Ricky Awodi, for Parrot Newspaper
Saturday, April 19, 2025
A regular Saturday morning in Lagos turned chaotic as a multi-storey building on Oremeta Street, in the bustling Ojodu-Berger area, suddenly gave way—collapsing into a heap of rubble and horror.
The building, still under construction, reportedly housed the popular EqualRight Restaurant on its lower floor—an eatery frequented by residents and passersby. As of press time, several people are feared trapped beneath the wreckage, with emergency responders working frantically to reach possible survivors.
“Like watching a nightmare unfold in daylight”
Witnesses described the collapse, which happened around 8 a.m., as a jarring moment of fear and helplessness. One local resident who spoke with Parrot Newspaper on condition of anonymity said he had long avoided the restaurant due to the building’s suspicious structure.
> “That place was a disaster waiting to happen. I always told people it looked like it could collapse any minute,” he said, eyes fixed on the mountain of debris now blocking the street.
According to the eyewitness, the collapse was sudden, almost surreal—”like watching a nightmare unfold in daylight.” Dust filled the air as the structure caved in, with a thunderous crash heard across several blocks.
Emergency Teams on Ground, More Awaited
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) was among the first to arrive at the scene. Their personnel, armed with digging tools and life-detection equipment, began combing through the ruins almost immediately. The mood among the crowd—thick with fear and whispered prayers—was tense, as loved ones of the potentially trapped clung to hope.
So far, the number of casualties remains unknown. What is clear, however, is that this is another tragic reminder of the cracks—both literal and metaphorical—within the state’s construction and regulatory systems.
Unanswered Questions and Familiar Fears
Why was the building allowed to operate a commercial venture while still under construction? Was there any structural assessment by regulatory bodies? These are the uncomfortable questions now being asked by residents and observers alike.
The Ojodu-Berger incident adds to a growing list of structural failures in Lagos, a city known for both its towering ambitions and its fragile infrastructure. For now, rescue efforts continue, while the street remains cordoned off by authorities.
Parrot Newspaper will continue to follow the story and provide updates as rescue operations unfold.