By: Tijani Salako.

The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has raised concerns over a structurally distressed three-storey classroom building at Mainland Senior High School, Onayade Street, Fadeyi, Yaba, Lagos State, warning that it poses a serious risk to pupils and teachers.

The warning was issued in a press release signed by BCPG’s Yaba Cell coordinator, Engr. Bayo Ogunrinde, and general secretary, Bldr. Funmi Olaitan, following an inspection of the building by the guild’s officials.

“We would like to draw attention to a dangerous safety compromise within the premises of Mainland Senior High School, a distressed three-storey classroom building has become a perpetual threat to the lives of pupils and teachers.

“On Thursday, 4th December 2025, a visit was paid to the school by BCPG representatives, accompanied by Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) officials and the king of the locality, the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe, HRM Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi.”

The building was first identified as distressed in April 2019 after non-destructive structural tests conducted by the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory. The assessment followed the March 2019 collapse of a five-storey building at Ita-Faaji, Lagos Island, which claimed about 20 pupils’ lives.

Despite being marked as distressed by LASBCA more than six years ago, no final remedial action has been taken. During the recent inspection, BCPG officials observed further structural deterioration, including a roof in disrepair, spalling of concrete on slabs and beams, and exposed, corroded reinforcement steel bars. The group said these conditions fall below standards prescribed by the National Building Code of Nigeria.

Although the building is currently unoccupied, BCPG expressed concern that it remains easily accessible and is located close to other classrooms and administrative blocks in active use. The guild warned that simple caution tape is insufficient to prevent students from entering the structure.

The warning comes amid a series of recent school building collapses in Lagos State. In January 2026, a classroom building collapsed at Odokekere High School, Ikorodu, while another collapse at 335 Borno Way, Alagomeji, Yaba, in September 2025 killed five people.

BCPG cautioned that no technology exists to accurately predict when a distressed building might fail, stressing that delay and indecision could lead to avoidable loss of life.

The guild called on the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently cordon off the building with proper hoarding and take a final decision on its repair, reinforcement, or demolition.

“Preventive action remains the most effective way to avert another school building tragedy in the state,” the group said.