Residents of Odo-Kekere community in Ikorodu, Lagos State, were thrown into panic on Thursday evening after a section of a public school building partially collapsed.
The incident occurred after school hours, a timing many have described as fortunate, as no pupils were in the classrooms when the structure gave way.
Witnesses said the collapse was accompanied by a loud, thunderous sound that drew neighbours to the scene. Dust billowed into the air as part of the aging building crumbled.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) arrived promptly, cordoned off the area and commenced safety operations.
As of press time, the cause of the collapse and the full extent of damage were still being investigated. Preliminary reports confirmed that no students were present at the time of the incident.
Rescue teams were conducting search-and-rescue operations to ensure that no security guards or staff members were trapped in the rubble.
An eyewitness and resident, Mrs. Boluwaji Aderinto, whose home is adjacent to the school, said the incident has heightened concerns over the safety of public infrastructure in the area.
“We heard a loud crack and then dust everywhere,” she said. “We thank God it didn’t happen in the morning when the children were in their desks. This is a wake-up call for the government.”
She added that parents and community leaders had previously called for urgent renovation of deteriorating school facilities in the neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, a high-level delegation from the Lagos State Ministry of Education visited the site for an on-the-spot assessment.
A senior ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the visit, saying: “We have officers on site, including the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District II, already assessing the situation for further action.”
The incident has renewed concerns about the structural integrity of buildings in both public and private schools across Lagos, with growing calls for an immediate overhaul of aging educational infrastructure to safeguard lives.
