DistantNews
Support us
๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Nigeria /Disasters & Emergencies

Kwara orders demolition of unsafe two-storey building over collapse fears

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Kwara State Government ordered the demolition of a dilapidated two-storey building in Ilorin due to safety concerns.
  • The building was declared structurally unsafe after residents reported fears of imminent collapse.
  • The government warned of demolition by state authorities if the owner fails to comply with the directive.

The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate demolition of a severely dilapidated two-storey building in the Oke-Suna area of Ilorin East Local Government Area. The structure has been declared structurally unsafe and a significant threat to the lives and property of residents.

The condition of the building constitutes a grave danger to public safety. The owner is hereby directed to commence its immediate demolition.

โ€” Jide AinaGeneral Manager of KWEPA, issuing the demolition order.

The Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) took action after receiving complaints from the community expressing fears of an imminent collapse. An inspection confirmed the building's dangerous condition, prompting the agency to seal it and issue a demolition order. According to KWEPAโ€™s Press Secretary, Aliyu Amode, the enforcement action was taken to avert a potential disaster.

During the inspection, an elderly resident informed KWEPA officials that the building's owner had been repeatedly warned about the deteriorating state of the structure. However, the owner allegedly ignored several appeals to conduct necessary repairs, despite the clear danger posed by the building.

Failure to comply with this directive will leave the Kwara State Government with no option but to demolish the structure in the interest of protecting lives and property.

โ€” Jide AinaWarning about the consequences of non-compliance.

Jide Aina, the General Manager of KWEPA, stated that the building's condition posed a grave danger to public safety and directed the owner to commence demolition immediately. "Failure to comply with this directive will leave the Kwara State Government with no option but to demolish the structure in the interest of protecting lives and property," Aina warned. He urged residents to continue reporting hazardous structures to KWEPA for swift intervention, reaffirming the government's commitment to safeguarding citizens through proactive environmental enforcement and strict adherence to safety regulations.

We encourage residents across the state to continue supporting the governmentโ€™s efforts by promptly reporting abandoned buildings, distressed structures, environmental nuisances and other environmental hazards to KWEPA for swift intervention.

โ€” Jide AinaEncouraging community participation in reporting hazards.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.