The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Ojodu Cell, has called for the urgent installation of early warning systems in buildings across Nigeria following the recent collapse of a school structure in Ogba, Lagos. In a statement issued on Sunday, the professional body said the collapse of a school building at Yemco Schools, located on Adu Street in the Aguda area of Ogba within Ojodu Local Council Development Area of Lagos, underscores the need for proactive monitoring systems capable of detecting structural distress before catastrophic failure occurs. The building collapsed on March 9, 2026, but pupils and staff were reportedly evacuated before the incident, preventing loss of lives. SPONSOR AD According to the guild, buildings often display warning signs before structural failure occurs. Such signs include concrete spalling, visible cracks in walls or columns, bulging surfaces, unusual vibrations and noticeable deflection in floors or beams. It noted that recognising these early indicators could provide a critical window for intervention and evacuation. The guild also observed that the incident occurred just days before the seventh anniversary of another tragic school building collapse in Lagos. On March 13, 2019, a five-storey school building on Massey Street in the Ita-Faaji area of Lagos Island collapsed, killing about 20 pupils and leaving several others injured. According to feedback from the BCPG Lagos Island Cell, structural distress signals such as cracks, concrete spalling and unusual sounds were noticed in the Ita-Faaji building shortly before the collapse. However, the building failed before occupants could be evacuated. The guild said the narrow escape recorded in the Yemco Schools incident demonstrates the importance of early detection and evacuation systems in preventing fatalities. It explained that modern building monitoring technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled sensors, can detect structural stress, movement and deflection in real time. Such systems, it said, are capable of triggering alarms when a building exceeds safe structural limits, such as when beams begin to deflect, columns weaken or unusual vibrations are detected. The BCPG advised that high-occupancy structures such as schools, hospitals and multi-storey residential buildings should be prioritised for the installation of such monitoring systems. “The school building collapse at Aguda, Ogba demonstrates a simple but vital lesson: detecting tell-tale signs and equipping buildings with early warning systems can save lives,” the statement said. The guild also called for strict enforcement of periodic structural integrity tests on buildings, particularly older structures, to ensure they remain safe for use. It added that thorough investigations into the Yemco school building collapse would help determine the exact cause and prevent similar incidents in the future. The group further urged the Lagos State Government to urgently address concerns about a reportedly distressed three-storey school building at Mainland Senior High School in the Fadeyi area of Yaba. According to the guild, its Yaba Cell had formally drawn the attention of the state government to the condition of the building on January 28, 2026. The BCPG reaffirmed its commitment to working with government agencies, regulatory authorities and stakeholders in the built environment to promote safer construction practices and prevent avoidable building collapses across Nigeria. The statement was jointly signed by the Coordinator of the BCPG Ojodu Cell, Abiodun Adegoke; the General Secretary, Dom Ibeh; and the Public Relations Officer, Femi Ishola.