Lagos Govt Moves to Demolish RCCG Church After Deadly Building Collapse

Tension is brewing in Somolu, Lagos, as the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has ordered the demolition of a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) parish—just days after a neighbouring building under construction came crashing down, badly damaging the church structure during a live service.

The shocking collapse, which occurred on Monday, sent tremors through the community as church members narrowly escaped death. Eyewitnesses say the incident could have easily turned tragic if not for sheer luck.

“They were in the middle of worship when the ground shook. It was chaos. Thank God no one died,” a local trader recounted. “Construction workers jumped from the top floor and ran for their lives.”

Despite surviving the disaster, the RCCG congregation now faces a new nightmare: forced eviction. On Tuesday, LASBCA officials stormed the premises, slapping a final demolition notice on the already damaged church building, declaring it “distressed” and unfit for use.

“This building must be removed within seven days,” the notice warned.

Residents are furious. Many accuse the authorities of turning a blind eye to the hasty and questionable construction of the now-collapsed structure, only to turn around and punish the victims.

“Barely days after the old building was demolished, a new one sprang up almost overnight,” said Pastor Daniel Ojo, who leads the embattled RCCG parish. “Now our church is in ruins, and we’re told to leave. Where do we go from here?”

Pastor Ojo expressed deep worry over the future of his congregation, a close-knit group in a densely packed industrial neighbourhood.

“We’re more than just a church—we’re a community, a family. Forcing us out will scatter our members,” he lamented.

Observers say this is yet another chapter in Lagos’ troubling saga of unregulated urban development, where profit-driven construction often overrides safety protocols.

Experts have long warned that the state’s lax enforcement of building regulations is a ticking time bomb. The Somolu incident is now the latest in a growing catalogue of structural failures that stain Lagos’ urban reputation.

Meanwhile, the silence from the Lagos State Government is deafening. As of press time, no word has come regarding investigations or possible sanctions against the developers responsible for the collapse—raising even more questions about accountability and justice.

How many more buildings must fall before someone takes responsibility?