The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that another building collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos, describing the information as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency said emergency responders were immediately deployed to the location mentioned in the viral reports but found no evidence of any structural collapse.
According to him, the false alarm unnecessarily diverted emergency personnel and resources that could have been deployed to genuine emergencies.
“The circulation of false emergency reports diverts critical resources, dissipates operational efforts, and may delay response to genuine emergencies where lives are at risk,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
He urged members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified information, stressing that first responders require uninterrupted focus to manage real emergencies and save lives.
The agency noted that the misinformation emerged shortly after the recent collapse of a multi-storey residential and commercial building near Alakija Bus Stop along Old Ojo Road in the Ori-Ade Local Council Development Area, which prompted a large-scale rescue operation.
According to LASEMA, the actual incident resulted in the rescue of 27 people alive, while nine fatalities were recorded.
Following the collapse, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to conduct structural integrity assessments on buildings surrounding the affected site to prevent further incidents.
LASEMA urged residents to verify emergency information through official government channels before sharing it, emphasizing that the spread of false reports undermines emergency response efforts and could endanger lives.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property through prompt, coordinated and professional emergency response across Lagos State.