Oyo Govt seals collapsed building under reconstruction in Ibadan

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State Government has ordered a halt to reconstruction work on the collapsed two-storey commercial building in Ibadan.

The government also sealed off the premises on Monday.

The building, intended to house a fast-food outlet and located along the Dugbe-Mokola road, collapsed Sunday night during a rainstorm that affected parts of Ibadan.

Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, announced the sealing of the building after an on-the-spot assessment of the site.

Akin-Funmilayo said the action was taken to prevent casualties, ensure the safety of lives and property, and allow the government to conduct a proper investigation into the cause of the incident.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed that substandard materials were used in the construction of the collapsed structure. The government will carry out an integrity test on the collapsed building, as well as on other outlets of the restaurant built by the same contractor,” he said.

He added that the outcome of the test would determine the government’s next course of action.