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.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty in Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder after trial testimony also raised an alleged payment involving Diddy. A Las Vegas jury has found Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, delivering the first conviction in one of hip-hop’s most notorious unsolved cases, nearly 30 years after the shooting.
Jurors took less than three hours to reach their verdict following a nearly two-week trial, convicting the 63-year-old former Compton gang leader of murder with a deadly weapon, with intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. Davis was not accused of pulling the trigger himself.
Prosecutors argued he was the “shot caller” who handed the murder weapon to the gunman, believed to be his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, seeking revenge after Shakur’s entourage assaulted Anderson earlier that night. Under Nevada law, someone who facilitates a murder can be convicted of the crime itself.
Beyond the verdict, testimony during the trial surfaced a detail that has drawn far less attention than the conviction itself: an alleged connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs. According to testimony reported by Rolling Stone, Combs allegedly arranged for money to be passed to Davis through an intermediary named Zip Martin, reportedly intended as payment tied to the killing.
The arrangement reportedly fell apart when Martin, in poor health at the time, never followed through on meeting Davis as investigators had hoped. Combs, now serving a 50-month sentence following his 2025 conviction on prostitution-related transportation charges, has consistently denied any involvement in Shakur’s death, and no charges have been filed against him in connection with this testimony.
Prosecutors built much of their case on Davis’s own past statements, including admissions made in police interviews and details from a memoir he authored, in which he described handing his nephew the gun used in the shooting.
Davis did not testify in his own defence. His attorney, Michael Sanft, argued throughout the trial that Davis fabricated or exaggerated his account for money and notoriety, telling jurors that investigators failed to independently verify his claims.
Judge Carli Kierny ordered Davis held without bail ahead of sentencing, scheduled for October 13, where he faces a possible life sentence without parole. After the verdict was read, Davis calmly asked the court for his personal belongings, including his phone and laptop, and indicated he intends to appeal the conviction.
The verdict lands just two weeks before the anniversary of Shakur’s death on September 13, giving his family a name and now a conviction attached to the killing they’ve waited nearly three decades for.
Nathaniel Bassey shocked after Pastor Jerry Eze surprises him with birthday car
Gospel singer and minister Nathaniel Bassey has expressed shock after pastor Jerry Eze surprised him with a car as a birthday gift. Nathaniel Bassey shared a video of the moment he received the car, with the singer repeatedly asking who had sent him the gift.
Accompanying the video was a heartfelt message in which Bassey described himself as speechless after the surprise. Bassey revealed that although he usually keeps gestures like this private, he decided to share the surprise with his followers.
He explained that Pastor Jerry had secretly worked with his wife to get the car for him without his knowledge.
“Normally I keep things like this private, but not this one. I want to share this. Woke up yesterday just desiring a nice, easy day of gratitude to God. Unknown to me, my brother and friend @realjerryeze had this holy coup ongoing with my wife.
In truth, the surpriser had been surprised. Still don’t know how to really express this in words. He insisted on going for the very best when my wife suggested one to get. In his words, “My brother can’t drive that”
The gospel minister also revealed that Pastor Jerry plans to make similar gestures for other people.
“Pastor Jerry, not only has he done this for me. I know of a couple of other ones like this He is currently planning. The man gives like his life depends on it. And I’m here to publicly say THANK YOU, PJ (pastor Jerry) – You know, even if you never do this, I’d still love you the same. Thank you, Sir. Like I told you, I am speechless.”
Reconciliation with ex-husband Churchill helped women restore broken relationships-Tonto Dikeh
Actress Tonto Dikeh has revealed how her reconciliation with her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill, inspired her to help at least 10 women restore broken relationships with the fathers of their children. Dikeh shared this while urging single mothers to let go of hurt and embrace forgiveness for their own peace and healing.
According to the actress, her reconciliation with Churchill prompted several women in similar situations to reach out to her for guidance on how she overcame the pain of their decade-long dispute.
Ever since my reconciliation with my ex-husband, hundreds of women have reached out asking the same question: How did you learn to forgive?
While I couldn’t reply to everyone, I reached out to those whose pain mirrored my own. Today, to the glory of God, at least 10 women have been reconciled, restoring peace, healing hearts, and stepping into healthy co-parenting. God has truly turned my personal story into a tool for restoration.
If you are carrying bitterness today, please hear this: Forgiveness is never for the person who hurt you; it is for you. It is the key to moving your life forward. God will not inflict pain on others just because we are hurting,” she explained
Dikeh added that women who struggle with broken relationships should trust God rather than remain trapped in bitterness.
“True closure doesn’t come from people; it comes from God. He promises to restore the years that the cankerworm has eaten. Not just days or weeks, but years. Every tear you’ve shed and every year spent in pain will be turned into a powerful testimony.”
Dikeh’s message comes months after she announced the end of her long-running feud with Churchill, the father of her son, King Andre.
The former couple got married in 2015, but their marriage collapsed less than two years later. Their separation became a highly publicised dispute, with both parties involved in several accusations and public exchanges. Their disagreements also extended to issues around their son, with custody and co-parenting becoming part of the conflict. After years of hostility, Dikeh announced in January 2026 that she and Churchill had reconciled.
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