Residents of the Odo-Kekere Community in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State were thrown into panic on Thursday evening following the collapse of a classroom block within a local public school.
The incident occurred after school hours, sparing pupils and staff, but sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood as residents in nearby buildings were startled by a loud, thunderous sound that accompanied the collapse.
Confirming the development, the Lagos State Government, through its Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools (SCRPS), said the affected structure was a bungalow classroom block. The agency stressed that no casualty was recorded.
“All of our students are in perfect condition. The state government regrets the unfortunate incident,” the SCRPS stated in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the agency, preliminary and classified information revealed that the collapsed classroom block had already been identified as distressed and marked for demolition prior to the incident. Plans were reportedly underway to replace it with a more befitting structure capable of accommodating the school’s growing student population.
In response to the incident, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered the immediate relocation of affected pupils to nearby schools to ensure that academic activities are not disrupted.
“The Lagos State Governor has directed the immediate relocation of pupils to neighbouring schools, pending the commencement of reconstruction works,” the statement said.
The SCRPS also disclosed that its officials would conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the school to determine the next steps, including modalities for the immediate construction of an ultra-modern classroom block.
Thursday’s incident adds to a disturbing pattern of building collapses in Lagos in recent months, raising renewed concerns over structural integrity, enforcement of building regulations, and public safety.
The latest school collapse is expected to intensify calls for stricter monitoring of public infrastructure, particularly in schools, to prevent avoidable disasters and ensure the safety of pupils across the state.