The Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA has given an order for the demolition of a Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG church.
The church parish is located at the Somolu area of the state.
LASBCA gave the order after the collapse of a nearby structure under construction, which severely impacted the church building.
It was gathered that the building collapsed on Monday while members of the church were inside for a service.
Although the collapse caused significant structural damage to the church, no casualties were reported.
On Tuesday, LASBCA officials issued a final removal notice, declaring the church building unsafe.
A notice affixed to the site read: “This building has been declared distressed and must be removed within seven days.”
According to residents, the construction work on the now-collapsed building had moved at an unusually rapid pace.
“Right after demolishing the old structure, the new one was already rising within a few days,” said Pastor Daniel Ojo of the affected RCCG parish. “Now, we’re left without a place of worship.”
Ojo described the challenges ahead, stressing the difficulty of relocating in a heavily industrial neighbourhood where the congregation is closely knit.
“Moving far away could scatter our members. We’re more than a church, we’re a family,” he said.
Eyewitnesses said construction workers narrowly escaped the collapse.
“They were on the top floor when it gave way. They jumped down and fled. It’s a miracle no one died,” a local trader recalled.
LASBCA representative Adekomi Adeniyi confirmed that officials had assessed the site and concluded that demolition of the church was necessary to avoid further danger.
Urban planning analysts continue to raise concerns about the rising trend of unregulated, fast-tracked construction projects in Lagos, warning of the dangers posed to residents in crowded neighbourhoods. The Somolu collapse adds to a growing list of structural failures in the city.
As of the time of this report, the Lagos State Government has not issued any official statement regarding potential penalties for the developers of the collapsed building.
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