On 1 November 2021, Nigerians witnessed a terrible occurrence as a 21-storey high-rise building under construction in Ikoyi, Lagos collapsed at about 2:25 pm with scores of people under it, including the developer, Mr Femi Osibona. The collapsed block of luxury flats was located on Gerard Road, Ikoyi and so far, at least 36 people have been confirmed dead, among whom is Mr Osibona. Rescue efforts and investigations are still ongoing.
Here’s What We Know
Since the Ikoyi building collapse, there have been investigations and inquiries as to what actually transpired and why the building collapsed. The 21-storey luxury residential high-rise tower was one of the properties of Fourscore Homes Limited, a real estate company based in Nigeria owned by the now-late Mr Femi Osibona. This particular building is one of a trio of highrise buildings – referred to as 360 Degrees Towers – constructed by the company at no. 20 Gerard Road Ikoyi, Lagos.
Ongoing investigations have revealed that there have been incidents that had occurred in the past which served as warning signs to the events that are actually unfolding today. Simply put, the Ikoyi building collapse could most like have been prevented.
In February 2020, the original consultancy firm which had supervised the construction of the other two high-rise buildings on the site – Prowess Engineering Limited – withdrew from the project and put out a statement where they voiced their reservations over the work done on the now-collapsed building. While they vouched for the integrity of the other two structures, the letter claimed they could only vouch for the third building up to the 4th floor and as such, they were pulling out from the entire project.
Also, the Lagos State Government had made moves to seal the site in July 2020, as it was reported that the developers of the 360 Degrees Towers had defied the government orders and were erecting a 21-storey building instead of a 15-storey which was approved for the site.
At the time, the State Government took the action to seal the project site and even arrested Mr Osibona (as was seen in viral video clips making the rounds) in order to prevent another building collapse as the state has had a handful in recent times. However, he was released and the building project continued.
A source said at the time:
“It is unheard of that the owners of the Ikoyi project in question would embark on such a capital intensive project without obtaining required approvals for a project as massive as that. Gone are the days of negligence on the part of the Government when people flout the law. Sealing up the project is law taking its due course.
“The owners of this project have shown themselves to be defiant and obstinate, in that the State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning had been calling on them (to) without paying attention to what the Ministry had been calling their attention to.
“It does not benefit the state to stop economically viable projects like the project on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi, but the responsibility falls on the government that all rules and regulations guiding such buildings are strictly adhered to. What the government has done is to halt further construction with a view to assessing and evaluating the extent to which the builders had adhered to the building code. The state will take it up from there.
“The government will not fold its arm and watch people behave recklessly without order and accountability. We are talking about people’s lives here. The state will no longer tolerate such attitude from anybody no matter how highly placed they may be.”
Eyewitness Reports
Gabriel Bassey is one of the site workers who narrowly survived the Ikoyi building collapse and he told our reporter that he is lucky to have escaped being trapped under the rubbles.
“This project, 360 Degree, was built by Fourscore Homes Limited. I was trying to plug my phone and not up to five seconds that I left the spot, I saw the building coming down and I ran to safety. We have a lot of people trapped in the rubble, who we need to bring out.
“When the incident happened, we brought out six dead bodies and we still have like 30 Togolese and Nigerian bricklayers and four engineers and other workers. My boss, Mr Femi, is still trapped in the building. He was on the 18th floor with some of his clients, who wanted to buy the building when the incident happened.”
Another eyewitness, Blessing Feyijimi, decried the fact that the first responders were not properly equipped for the job they came to do. In her opinion, if they had the right equipment, more persons would have been rescued.
“When the incident happened around 1.36 pm, we started rescuing people but the security men locked the gate and didn’t allow people to enter. We protested and forced our way in. We recovered four dead bodies on the last floor and rescued four injured persons, but some people are still trapped in the rubble.”
Rescue Efforts and Ongoing Investigations
At the time of the Ikoyi building collapse on Monday, November 1, 2021, about 50 persons were said to be in the building, including engineers, labourers, prospective clients, and of course, Mr Femi Osibona himself. As of today, November 6, about 36 persons have been confirmed dead while about eight persons were rescued and are recuperating at the Lagos State General Hospital from the various degrees of injuries.
Rescue efforts are still ongoing and the operation is led by the Lagos State National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) alongside other responders. NEMA has the military has been called upon and would soon take over the rescue operations.
The Lagos State government has since launched an investigation into the Ikoyi building collapse and has suspended the chief architect of the state, Mr Taiwo Aiyepe, pending further investigations. Furthermore, an independent panel has been charged with the task of conducting an investigation with a result expected in the next 30 days.
Wole Soyinka Reveals He’s Been Banned from Entering the United States
Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka says the U.S. has withdrawn his visa and requested its physical cancellation in Lagos. Wole Soyinka said on Tuesday that the United States had revoked his non-immigrant visa issued last year, and that he had been informed he must reapply should he wish to visit the U.S. again.
The 91-year-old writer had torn up his U.S. green card and renounced his American residency in 2016 in protest of the election of President Donald Trump. The Nobel laureate has held regular teaching appointments at American Ivy League universities since the mid-1990s, following his Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.
“The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,” Soyinka had said.
On Tuesday, Soyinka presented reporters with a letter from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos requesting that he bring in his passport for the physical cancellation of his visa.
The letter, dated 23 October, stated that “additional information became available” after the visa had been issued. The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“I have no visa; I am obviously banned from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” Soyinka said, addressing those who might have planned to invite him to events in the U.S.
In July, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced that Nigerians applying for non-immigrant visas would now receive single-entry, three-month permits, rolling back the previous policy that had allowed multiple-entry, up to 5-year visas.
“I Feel Sorry for Men with One Wife” – Ned Nwoko Has No Regrets After Marrying 4 Wives
Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North, has finally opened up about his marriage to Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, addressing weeks of speculation, accusations, and viral clips that set social media on fire.
The businessman and politician not only defended his controversial polygamous lifestyle but also denied claims that he had been violent towards his wife.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Sunday, the politician addressed the marital crisis with his actress wife, Regina Daniels, directly.
He made astonishing claims about the merits of multiple marriages and firmly rejected the explosive allegations of domestic violence.
In his own words, Ned painted himself as a man who has been misunderstood, while standing firmly by his tradition and choices.
Senator Nwoko was asked about the status of his marriage with his youngest wife, Regina Daniels, following the disturbing video of a 25-year-old Nollywood actress that went viral. A teary clip showed the actress crying and saying she couldn’t “stand the violence anymore.” In the footage, she was heard lamenting, “In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing. But in my own house, I am a Queen.”
The video triggered outrage across social media, with many Nigerians accusing the lawmaker of domestic abuse. However, Senator Nwoko firmly rejected the claim, saying the story was false and that he had never raised a hand on any of his wives.
In his usual calm but confident tone, Senator Nwoko also spoke openly about being a proud polygamist, calling it both a blessing and a cultural duty.
The 64-year-old Senator expressed sympathy, or perhaps pity, for men in monogamous marriages: “I feel sorry for those who have one wife,” he said.
He argued that having multiple wives offers men greater stability and balance, using a striking, easy-to-understand analogy: “Just imagine standing on one leg — it’s difficult. But with two, three, or four, you’re more balanced. That’s the example I give.”
NCC, CBN’s move to end failed airtime, data transactions
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have joined forces to introduce a unified framework aimed at curbing failed airtime recharges and data transactions on electronic platforms.
The initiative, announced last week, seeks to enforce accountability among telecom operators, payment processors, and financial institutions, ensuring that millions of subscribers get timely redress for failed or incomplete transactions.
The Centre for Digital Justice and Consumer Rights (CDJCR) has applauded the move, describing it as a landmark in consumer protection. In a statement on Monday, October 20, 2025, the group’s Executive Director, Dr Kenechukwu Opara, said the collaboration between the two regulators was long overdue.
“For far too long, consumers have borne the brunt of system failures that are neither their fault nor within their control,” Opara said.
Opara noted that failed recharges and data purchases are among the most frequent complaints by telecom users, with many left stranded due to delayed or unresolved reversals. The new framework, he said, would protect millions of Nigerians who rely on mobile platforms for daily microtransactions.
Consumers are not just users; they are the backbone of the telecom and financial systems. By ensuring that customers get full value for every recharge and data purchase, the NCC is not only protecting rights but also deepening trust in Nigeria’s cashless and digital inclusion policies,” he added.
The CDJCR praised the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, for prioritising consumer welfare and for pushing a proactive regulatory agenda.
While commending the regulators, Opara urged them to go a step further by enforcing clear timelines, transparent processes, and strict sanctions against operators who fall short of agreed standards.
“We encourage both regulators to publish the service level expectations for all stakeholders — telecom operators, payment processors, and financial institutions — so that consumers know who to hold accountable when transactions fail,” he said.
The group also applauded the CBN for embedding consumer rights in its financial protection framework, especially for low-income Nigerians who depend heavily on digital services for daily payments.
Beyond telecoms, Opara argued that the NCC–CBN partnership should become a model for other sectors where technology, finance, and service delivery intersect.
“This kind of inter-agency collaboration shows that government institutions can truly work in the interest of citizens. What matters now is strict compliance and constant review of the framework to adapt to new technologies and emerging consumer issues,” he said.
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