Rapid Development, Sudden Collapse: RCCG Parish Faces Demolition After Neighboring Building Fails in Somolu

 

A Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) parish in the Somolu area of Lagos State is now facing demolition after a nearby building under construction collapsed, causing significant structural damage to the church premises.

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) issued a final removal notice on Tuesday, declaring the church building “distressed” and mandating its demolition within seven days. This directive followed an incident on Monday when the adjacent structure, still in its construction phase, gave way and partially crashed into the church, which was holding a service at the time.

Worshippers present during the collapse escaped without injury, but the impact left the church’s foundation compromised and its future uncertain. The scene has drawn concern from both religious and civil authorities, with growing public outcry over what many see as a systemic failure to regulate the pace and quality of urban development in Lagos.

Pastor Daniel Ojo, who leads the affected RCCG congregation, expressed deep concern over the looming demolition order, calling it both a spiritual and emotional blow to the community.

“We’ve worshipped here for years. This place is more than brick and mortar — it’s where we support one another, raise our children in the faith, and build lasting bonds,” he said, speaking from the debris-littered entrance of the church compound. “Now, we are being told to vacate and start over. But where do we go?”

The construction site next to the church had attracted attention from residents even before the collapse. According to eyewitness accounts, the pace of the work was unusually aggressive, raising suspicions about the quality of materials and structural integrity.

“Just days after pulling down the previous building, the new one had already reached several floors,” said a local trader who witnessed the collapse. “Construction workers were on the top floor when it gave way. They jumped and ran for their lives. We’re lucky no one died.”

This sense of luck, however, is tempered by frustration and fear among residents who now question whether other buildings in the neighborhood are also at risk. Experts have repeatedly warned about a worrying trend in Lagos: developers cutting corners and speeding up construction timelines at the expense of safety. Somolu, known for its densely packed residential and commercial structures, is particularly vulnerable.

LASBCA’s spokesperson, Adekomi Adeniyi, confirmed that an on-site inspection was conducted shortly after the incident, leading to the declaration that the church building was no longer structurally safe.

“Our engineers assessed the church and determined that the impact from the collapsed building had rendered it dangerous for further use,” Adeniyi stated. “We are not just removing a building; we are preventing a potential disaster.”

For the RCCG community in Somolu, the issue goes beyond immediate safety. The demolition represents a loss of heritage and stability in an area already dealing with economic pressures and space constraints.

“Relocating is not as simple as finding another venue,” Pastor Ojo explained. “Most of our members live nearby, and transportation can be difficult. Displacement might mean we lose contact with many of them — our unity, our sense of purpose, it’s all at risk.”

The Lagos State Government, as of press time, has not released any official statement concerning the responsibility or possible penalties for the developers of the collapsed structure. This silence has only fueled residents’ anger and concern about accountability in a city plagued by recurrent building failures.

Urban planning analysts say the Somolu collapse is part of a growing list of structural incidents across the metropolis. They point to a culture of unchecked development, lax enforcement of building codes, and increasing pressure from developers eager to capitalize on every square foot of urban land.

“This is not the first and, unfortunately, may not be the last,” said architect and planning consultant Tola Daramola. “Until there is a real shift toward enforcing safety standards and holding violators accountable, we’ll keep seeing headlines like this.”

As the countdown to the church’s demolition continues, members of the RCCG parish are scrambling to salvage what they can from the building — chairs, instruments, sacred items — all while holding prayer sessions under makeshift canopies.

“We’re praying not just for a solution,” said one congregant, “but for the strength to remain a community, no matter where we end up.”