The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has issued a demolition order for a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish in the Somolu area of Lagos, which sustained significant damage after a nearby building under construction collapsed onto it. This development follows Monday's incident where worshippers inside the church narrowly escaped death when the adjacent structure crumbled.
When reporters visited the scene on Tuesday, it was confirmed that LASBCA had not only ordered the demolition but also instructed the church's occupants to vacate the premises. A notice posted on the church wall clearly indicated that the worship center had suffered structural damage due to the neighboring building's collapse. A third notice from LASBCA explicitly stated that the church building must be demolished within seven days. The notice, dated June 16, 2025, warned that if the "infraction/unauthorised or distressed building" was not removed within the stipulated timeframe, it would be demolished by the authorities, with the cost recovered from the church.
Parish Pastor Daniel Ojo highlight the significant disruption the impending demolition would cause to church activities. He lamented that they would be unable to hold services and shared prior concerns about the quality of work on the collapsed building. Ojo recounted how a bungalow at the site was quickly pulled down and a new building rapidly erected, causing apprehension even among non-engineers due to the speed of construction. The pastor also noted the difficulty of finding a temporary location for services in the industrial Somolu area, fearing the church would lose its members if they moved too far, as it is a "family church."
Meanwhile, a local trader, who wished to remain anonymous, described how construction workers at the collapsed building site narrowly escaped injury. They explained that all workers were at the top of the structure when it began to fall, allowing them to flee to safety.
When contacted, Adekomi Adeniyi, whose contact information was on the demolition notice, confirmed that LASBCA had indeed posted the order. He stated that after clearing the debris from the collapsed building, officials inspected the church to assess the impact, leading to the demolition notice.
