Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has ordered a full-scale investigation into Monday’s building collapse in Ajuwon, Ifo Local Government Area, with a warning that anyone found to have breached building regulations or compromised construction standards would face prosecution.
The directive came after a two-storey building on Baale Road gave way during a violent thunderstorm on Monday afternoon that led to the death of one person and left emergency responders scrambling through the rubble in search of possible survivors.
The tragedy has again thrown the spotlight on Nigeria’s recurring building collapse crisis, where weak regulatory enforcement, poor construction practices, and disregard for approved building plans have repeatedly claimed lives despite years of official warnings.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the governor instructed technical experts from relevant state agencies to determine what caused the collapse instead of relying on speculation linked to the storm.
Initial findings from a multi-agency assessment indicated that the structure suffered what investigators called a catastrophic failure, with the lower floors sinking into the ground while parts of the upper slab remained visible above the debris.
Residents said the building collapsed shortly after about 3 p.m. following a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds, thunderstorms, and a reported lightning strike in the area.
Witnesses recounted that two women and their children managed to flee after noticing signs that the building was becoming unstable. A young man also escaped with minor injuries moments before the structure came down.
Emergency personnel from the Ogun State Safety Office, Fire Service, Ministries of Environment, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Works and Infrastructure, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Ifo Local Government emergency unit arrived shortly afterwards and launched coordinated rescue operations.
Construction firms working around the Akute, Alagbole and Agbado corridor also deployed heavy equipment to assist rescuers within minutes of the incident.
Though early surface searches found no trapped occupants, emergency workers continued excavations after discovering blood stains and footprints beneath the debris. The operation later led to the recovery of one body, whose identity had not been released as of Wednesday.
Abiodun maintained that weather conditions alone could not explain the collapse and insisted that specialists must examine the building’s foundation, soil conditions, structural integrity, and construction materials before any conclusion is reached.
He directed the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Ogun State Building Control Agency, the Building Production Management and Material Testing Agency, and other regulators to inspect nearby buildings to determine whether they pose similar risks.
The governor sympathised with the family of the deceased and praised emergency workers, volunteers, and residents whose swift response helped prevent a higher death toll.
He also acknowledged support from the Lagos State Government during the rescue operation and said the cooperation was evidence of the close working relationship between both states.
Building collapses have become a persistent challenge in several parts of Nigeria, particularly in Lagos and neighbouring Ogun, where rapid urban growth, unauthorised construction, and weak compliance with planning regulations continue to test the capacity of regulators. The latest incident is likely to renew calls for stricter enforcement of building codes and more rigorous inspection of ongoing construction projects.
Abiodun urged developers and property owners to secure statutory approvals before embarking on construction and warned that cutting corners in pursuit of profit could have fatal consequences.
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