Survivors of Thursday’s three-storey building collapse in the Alakija area of Lagos have narrated how they narrowly escaped death, with one shop owner losing his apprentice while another said he escaped after leaving the area moments before the structure came crashing down.
According to The Punch, Kenneth Nwabueze said he had stepped out of his shop to deliver a completed job to a client when the building suddenly collapsed.
He recalled receiving a distress call from his secretary shortly afterwards, informing him that those inside had been trapped beneath the rubble.
“Within five minutes, I got a call that our building had collapsed. My heart skipped. While I was on my way, my secretary called, saying they were trapped under the rubble and asked me to come quickly,” he said.
Nwabueze said rescue workers managed to save his secretary and another customer, but his apprentice did not survive the incident.
Despite losing his business and equipment, he expressed gratitude for surviving the tragedy.
“God gave me life first; I am not complaining. I lost a lot of machines, but I thank God that I am alive. When there is life, there is hope,” he said.
He also revealed that cracks had appeared on the building days before the collapse and that the landlord had been informed but no repairs were carried out before the structure gave way.
“There are lessons to learn. Prioritise your life over riches and wealth,” Nwabueze added.
Another shop owner, Jeffery Okoro, who operates opposite the collapsed building, also recounted his narrow escape, saying he would not have survived if he had stayed at the scene a little longer.
“I would’ve died if I stayed longer,” Okoro said while reflecting on the incident.
He described the collapse as heartbreaking, noting that while businesses and property could be rebuilt, the lives lost could never be replaced. He also urged building owners and relevant authorities to act promptly whenever signs of structural distress are noticed to prevent similar tragedies.
