Original report
The 21-storey building collapse at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi in November 2021 killed 45 people. Court proceedings and Lagos State's own investigations revealed that LASBCA officials had flagged the building as unsafe and issued a stop-work order that was never enforced. The developer, Fourscore Homes, continued construction despite the order and despite multiple complaints from neighbours. Two prior approvals for the building had been granted and then revoked — yet construction continued. Building plans were modified mid-project without approval. LASBCA has the legal mandate to seal and demolish unsafe structures but did not act. The coroner's inquest found that the collapse was preventable and that regulatory failure contributed directly to the deaths. To date, no LASBCA official has been held accountable for their failure to enforce the stop-work order. The agency continues to grant and revoke approvals for other high-rise projects in Lagos while the families of the 45 victims still await accountability.