By HeapNews
Authorities in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos said on Tuesday that no lives were lost after an emergency incident involving a three-storey school building in the Ogba area of the state, following swift response operations by emergency officials.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said emergency responders were deployed earlier in the day to Yemco Schools, Daycare Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College, located on Adu Street behind County Hospital in the Aguda area of Ogba, after reports of an incident at the building.
Officials said a coordinated search and safety assessment was carried out at the site to determine whether anyone had been trapped in the structure.
“After careful assessment and rescue operations, I can confirm that all individuals within the vicinity of the building were accounted for and no casualties were recorded,” the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA said in a statement after visiting the location.
The agency described the situation as an emergency incident rather than a disaster because there was no loss of life.
Emergency teams from LASEMA and other first responders secured the surrounding area and conducted safety checks on the building to ensure there were no trapped victims and that the environment was safe.
Authorities did not immediately disclose the cause of the incident, but said investigations and structural assessments would continue.
The school building is located in a densely populated neighbourhood in Ogba, one of the busy residential and commercial districts in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city.
Officials said the priority during the response was to safeguard students, staff and residents living near the structure.
“Our emergency teams promptly secured the environment, carried out safety checks and ensured there were no trapped victims within the structure,” the statement said.
Images and messages circulating online earlier in the day had suggested the incident might have resulted in casualties, prompting officials to urge caution over unverified reports on social media.
“In situations like this, inaccurate reports and exaggerated claims can create unnecessary panic within the public,” the agency said.
Authorities urged residents and media platforms to rely only on information released by official emergency management agencies, warning that the spread of unverified information during emergencies could interfere with response efforts.
“Spreading unverified information during emergencies can hinder response operations and misinform the public,” the statement said.
Emergency officials said the site had been stabilised and that the situation had been fully contained.
Lagos State Government said it would continue to work with relevant authorities to evaluate the structural integrity of buildings across the state as part of efforts to enforce safety standards.
Officials have repeatedly warned about building safety in the fast-growing city, where rapid urban expansion and ageing structures have raised concerns among regulators and urban planners.
Authorities said they would maintain monitoring of the affected building and surrounding structures to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
“The safety of residents, students and staff remains our top priority,” the LASEMA official said.
The agency added that the public should remain calm as there was no further threat linked to the incident.
Emergency management teams have since concluded their immediate rescue checks at the site while authorities continue follow-up safety assessments, the statement said.