Fresh concerns have been raised over the safety of pupils and teachers at Mainland Senior High School, Fadeyi, following a warning by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Yaba Cell, over a distressed three-storey classroom block within the school premises.
In a letter dated January 30, 2026, and addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Ali-Balogun, the professional body cautioned that continued delay and indecision by relevant authorities could expose lives to avoidable tragedy. The guild said the situation evoked painful memories of past building collapses in Lagos State, particularly those involving school children.
Signed by the Coordinator of BCPG Yaba Cell, Engr. Bayo Ogunrinde, and its General Secretary, Bldr. Funmi Olaitan, the letter revealed that the affected building was identified as distressed as far back as April 4, 2019. This followed non-destructive structural tests conducted by the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory after the deadly Ita-Faaji building collapse on Lagos Island in March 2019, which claimed the lives of about 20 pupils.
According to the guild, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) clearly marked the three-storey classroom block as distressed more than six years ago, yet no decisive remedial action has been taken. It described the prolonged inaction as deeply troubling, warning that the consequences of indecision in such cases could be fatal.
BCPG recalled that the collapsed building at 63 Massey Street, Ita-Faaji, had also been tested and declared distressed but was only given cosmetic renovation before its eventual collapse. The guild noted that parents and survivors of that tragedy are still grappling with psychological trauma, highlighting the heavy human cost of regulatory delays.
The alarm was further heightened by a joint inspection carried out on December 4, 2025, when BCPG officials, alongside representatives of LASBCA and the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe, Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi, visited the school. A visual assessment reportedly revealed severe structural defects, including a badly damaged roof and extensive spalling of concrete in slabs and beams, leaving reinforcement bars exposed and corroded.
The guild said the building has deteriorated to a point where it no longer complies with the provisions of the National Building Code. Of particular concern is the fact that although the structure is officially unoccupied, it remains easily accessible to pupils, with no solid barriers to prevent entry. BCPG warned that caution tapes alone are insufficient to keep playful school children away from danger.
Adding to the concern, the distressed block is located dangerously close to other classrooms and office buildings currently in use, raising fears that a collapse could trigger a chain reaction. The guild referenced recent incidents, including the collapse of a classroom building at Odokekere High School, Ikorodu, on January 15, 2026, and the fatal building collapse at 335 Borno Way, Alagomeji, Yaba, in September 2025, which claimed five lives.
BCPG urged the education commissioner to treat the matter with utmost urgency, recommending the immediate isolation of the building with proper hoarding while a final decision—either demolition or comprehensive structural intervention—is taken. It also called on the Lagos State Safety Commission, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to prioritise safety in school environments.
Warning that the exact time of a building collapse cannot be predicted, the guild stressed that uncertainty should prompt swift and decisive action rather than delay. It concluded with an appeal that the current administration should not witness another avoidable school building collapse in Lagos State.
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