The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate demolition of a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the Somolu area following the collapse of an adjoining building under construction, which left the church premises structurally compromised.
The incident occurred on Monday during a church service. Though the collapse caused significant damage to the church building, no lives were lost — a development many described as miraculous.
Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) visited the site on Tuesday, issuing a final removal notice to the church. A prominent warning posted on the building declared it “distressed” and directed that it be pulled down within seven days for public safety.
Pastor Daniel Ojo, who leads the affected RCCG parish, expressed deep concern over the displacement of the congregation. “We are not just losing a building. We’re being torn away from our spiritual home,” he lamented. “In this industrial area, finding a new place nearby isn’t just hard—it threatens the very fabric of our fellowship.”
Witnesses at the scene recounted how construction workers on the ill-fated building narrowly avoided death. “They were working on the top floor when the building suddenly gave way,” said a local food vendor who saw the collapse. “They jumped and ran. We’re lucky no one was killed.”
According to residents, the construction site had raised concerns for weeks due to the speed and scale of the development. “They demolished the old building and within days, another structure was already coming up,” a nearby landlord observed. “It didn’t look right from the beginning.”
Speaking on behalf of LASBCA, agency representative Mr. Adekomi Adeniyi confirmed that a structural assessment found the church unsafe. “The impact of the collapse was too severe. The only option to ensure safety is full demolition,” he stated.
Urban planning experts have repeatedly warned of a growing pattern of unregulated, accelerated building projects across Lagos. Monday’s incident adds to the disturbing number of structural failures in densely populated districts like Somolu.
As at press time, the Lagos State Government has yet to release an official statement concerning punitive action against the developers of the collapsed structure. However, pressure continues to mount on regulators to clamp down on illegal constructions and enforce more stringent safety protocols.
