Residents of a luxury apartment in Banana Island raised alarms after several people were trapped inside a lift for nearly 40 minutes.
Panic inside the lift
A viral video on social media captured the distressing scene, showing occupants struggling to breathe and calling for help. At least five adults were seen sweating heavily and visibly anxious as they pleaded for assistance from outside.
One of the trapped men explained the situation in the video:
“We are stuck in the lift of Banana Island School Apartment. We’ve been here for almost 40 minutes, and we’re suffocating. I’m here with my wife Mary, my brother, and my cousin… nobody seems to be doing anything about it.
We spoke to the landlady’s daughter; she said they would see what they can do. Even the principal of the school came over and said they’re trying, but 40 minutes in, we’re almost passing out.
I don’t know what to do. We are stuck in the lift here in Banana Island Apartment. Thank you.”
The video has since circulated widely, drawing attention to the safety concerns and response delays in the building.
Watch the video here…
“We’ve been stuck in the lift for over 40 minutes and nobody is doing anything about it.”
— Residents of a Banana Island apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos cry out after being trapped. pic.twitter.com/6rnbcu1CeY
— Linda Ikeji Blog (@lindaikeji) March 9, 2026
Public Reactions to Viral Lift Incident
The video of residents trapped in a Banana Island lift has sparked widespread debate online, with many questioning the safety standards of high-end apartments.
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Coc commented: “Lift takes a maximum of 6 persons, 460 kg by weight, but what I’m seeing there is more than 6 persons. Why didn’t you observe the safety measures for using the lift?”
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Nelson added: “They are not serious. They can open it from the inside with a little help from outside.”
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Arinze remarked: “And this would probably be one of the so-called luxury apartments they aggressively market to Nigerians, but they don’t even have alternatives for emergency situations like this. Luxury in the mud.”
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Ambrose Efe shared a personal experience: “Omo! This thing is not funny o. The day I was stuck in a lift with my guys in Abuja, we were pretty tipsy; we started to break that thing open before people outside realized.”
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New Dawn criticized the hype around expensive housing: “This is why I don’t rate expensive places in Lagos. It’s mostly bullsheeet and not worth the hype. Imagine paying such an outrageous amount for accommodation, and no emergency response for your lift? That’s madness.”
The incident has reignited conversations about building safety, emergency preparedness, and the accountability of management in luxury residences.
