The Lagos State Government has launched an investigation into the cause of the three-story building collapse that occurred on Friday at 2/4 Oye Sonuga Street, Palmgrove, Mushin.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, revealed this at the scene, saying the incident, which occurred at midday, was "the partial collapse of a four-story building that is over forty years old."
According to Mukaila Sanusi, the ministry's spokesman, Mr Bamgbose-Martins ordered the adjoining building demolished for safety reasons.
According to the commissioner, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory have been tasked with determining the cause.
He stated that the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency had begun rescue operations and that efforts were being made to save anyone trapped under the rubble.
Building collapses are common in Lagos, with Friday's incident following the September 4 collapse of a seven-story building on Oba Idowu Oniru Street in Lekki.
The building, which was under construction, caved in, killing no less than five people. Idris Salako, the former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, resigned a day after the incident.
On September 17, his successor, Mr Bamgbose-Martins, told staff members of the ministry's agencies in a meeting that it could no longer be business as usual.
(NAN)