A classroom building collapse at Odokekere Community Junior Secondary School in the Odo-Kekere area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, has triggered renewed concerns about the safety of public school infrastructure, with human rights advocate and politician Princess Abiodun Oyefusi warning that the incident could easily have turned tragic.
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The collapse, which occurred on Thursday, January 15, 2026, involved a bungalow classroom block within the school premises and caused panic among students, staff and residents of the surrounding community.
Authorities confirmed that no lives were lost and no injuries recorded, as no students or staff were inside the building at the time of the incident.
Reacting to the development, Princess Oyefusi described the incident as a near-miss disaster, noting that the outcome could have been very different if it had happened during school hours.
“While we are grateful that no child or teacher was harmed, this incident exposes a serious risk. Our children should not be made to learn in buildings that are old, weak or unsafe,” she said.
She acknowledged the Lagos State Government’s disclosure that the collapsed structure had been listed for demolition under an ongoing rehabilitation programme but stressed that preventive action must come before failure, not after.
According to her, all public schools should undergo immediate structural integrity assessments, with urgent repairs or reconstruction carried out wherever weaknesses are identified.
Princess Oyefusi, who has consistently advocated for child protection and public safety, said the concerns raised by parents, teachers and community members must be taken seriously. She called for greater accountability and increased investment in safe, modern learning environments, emphasising that the welfare of children must never be compromised.
She commended the prompt response of the Emergency Management Agency and the Building Control Agency, as well as the calm conduct of students and school staff during the incident.
However, she warned that beyond emergency response and official assurances, decisive and sustained action is needed to prevent a recurrence.
As investigations continue, Princess Oyefusi urged relevant authorities to treat the Ikorodu school collapse as a wake-up call, and to fast-track renovation projects, enforce building standards and prioritise safety across public schools in Lagos State and nationwide.
