The death toll from a church collapse in southern Nigeria could rise from the current figure of 60 as debris is cleared away, rescue officials have warned.

The roof at the Reigners Bible Church International in the city of Uyo gave way during a busy service on Saturday to ordain it's founder, Akan Weeks, as a bishop.

Members of the congregation say the building was still under construction and workers had been in a hurry to complete it in time for the ceremony.

Akan Weeks, who spoke before hundreds of people at the Reigners Bible Church International about God making His followers wealthy, escaped from the scene hurt

A spokesman for the governor of Akwa Ibom state, Udom Emmanuel, said officials would carry out an inquiry to establish whether building standards at the church were compromised.

Some 116 people died when a multi-storey guesthouse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos, in 2014.