Telecom Mast Collapses On Ogun Building During Heavy Rainfall

A telecommunications mast belonging to IHS Company collapsed during a heavy downpour on Tuesday afternoon, crashing into a residential building at Unity Estate, Alagbole-Akute area of Ogun State. The landlord of the affected building narrowly escaped death and sustained only minor injuries.

According to eyewitness reports, the incident occurred around 2:39 p.m. amidst strong winds and torrential rain. The mast, located in the Ajuwon area of Akute, was reportedly uprooted by the severe weather and landed forcefully on the house.

Confirming the development, the Ogun State Police Command released a statement through its spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, explaining that the command received a distress call from a resident, Mr. Moses Olalere, reporting the emergency.

“On June 3, 2025, at about 14:39 hrs, the Ogun State Police Command received a distress call from Mr. Moses Olalere reporting a natural disaster during a heavy downpour,” Odutola stated.

She further detailed that the mast, which had been installed near residential buildings, collapsed and struck part of a home. The landlord was inside the building at the time but miraculously survived the incident, suffering only minor bruises. He was quickly treated by medical personnel and is now in stable condition.

Photos released by the police show extensive damage to the roof and upper section of the building, with parts of the mast entangled in the structure.

In response to the incident, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered an immediate safety review of all telecom masts located in or near residential areas across the state. He directed Area Commanders to initiate urgent consultations with companies operating such masts to ensure their structural integrity.

“The safety of our citizens is paramount,” CP Ogunlowo said. “We are taking this incident seriously and will be intensifying our engagement with relevant stakeholders to prevent future occurrences.”

Preliminary investigations into the cause of the collapse have begun, and authorities have promised to keep the public informed of further findings.

The incident has renewed public concern over the placement of telecom infrastructure in densely populated residential neighborhoods, especially with the increasing frequency of severe weather events in Nigeria.