Building Safety Guild Applauds Demolition of Hazardous Yaba School Structures
The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) Yaba Cell has publicly commended the recent deconstruction of distressed classroom buildings in Yaba, Lagos. This action addresses long-standing safety concerns that threatened pupils and staff at Mainland Senior High School, located on Onayade Street, Fadeyi, within the Yaba Local Council Development Area.
Proactive Measures to Avert Disaster
In a joint statement, BCPG Yaba Cell Coordinator Bayo Ogunrinde and General Secretary Funmilayo Olaitan emphasized the importance of responsive governance in building safety. They noted that when community concerns are met with action, it fosters a culture of whistleblowing and accountability, essential for eliminating dangerous construction practices.
The three-storey school building in question was first identified as distressed on April 4, 2019, but remained unaddressed for nearly seven years, causing ongoing anxiety in the community. The guild expressed fears that a tragedy similar to the Ohen School collapse might recur. According to BCPG reports, the Ohen Nursery and Primary School building on Lagos Island, marked as distressed in 2015, collapsed in 2019, resulting in approximately 20 pupil fatalities and numerous injuries.
Timely Intervention and Structural Assessments
Prompted by the traditional ruler, Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe, HRM Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi, and BCPG Yaba Cell, officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) conducted a visual inspection of the Yaba school on December 4, 2025. Following this, BCPG Yaba Cell sent a formal letter to the Lagos State Commissioner for Education on January 30, 2026, urging immediate action to prevent a potential building collapse. The letter also alerted Yaba LCDA Chairman Hon. Bayo Adefuye to the risks disrupting the school's academic environment.
In response, Hakeem Smith, Chairman of the Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools in Lagos State, ordered new non-destructive structural tests on the school's three three-storey classroom buildings. The results were alarming: only one building was deemed safe for use. An additional building, though visually appealing, was found to have hidden defects, compounding the issues identified in 2019.
Broader Implications for Building Safety
The guild advocates for mandatory periodic structural integrity tests on all school buildings to prevent such scenarios. They highlighted the significant financial loss involved, estimating the rebuild cost for each classroom building at approximately N940 million. While retrofitting might seem a cost-effective alternative, the guild questioned whether parents would feel comfortable with their children in renovated but previously unsafe structures.
Recent incidents underscore the urgency of these measures. A five-storey building collapse on Borno Way, Yaba, in September 2025 resulted in five deaths, allegedly during retrofitting. Additionally, a narrow escape from a building collapse at Yemco Schools in Ogba, Ojodu, in March 2026 reinforced the need for decisive action regarding Mainland Senior High School.
Collaborative Efforts and Government Response
Earlier, on February 5, 2026, BCPG Lagos State Chapter Chairman Joseph Akande and Yaba Cell leaders met with LASBCA General Manager Mrs. Florence Gbaye to discuss the distressed buildings. The guild praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for prioritizing safety over economic considerations by approving LASBCA's demolition recommendation.
However, the guild raised critical questions about accountability, urging LASBCA and other agencies to investigate who constructed the defective buildings and ensure public funds are not wasted on substandard projects. This call to action emphasizes the need for robust oversight in public construction to safeguard communities and prevent future tragedies.
