…Committee recommends demolition of collapsed Event Centre
By Taiwo Erioluwa
Determined to checkmate occasional cases of building collapse that was posing danger to human lives, the Ekiti State Government, has indicated interest to henceforth deal with developers contravening extant rules and regulations in the state.
The state government, said such action became expedient to safeguard the lives of the people and curtail actions of developers, who often circumvent the rules mandating them to get proper approvals and building to specifications while handling pubic structures.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, handed down the threat on Friday in Ado Ekiti, while receiving the report of the six-man committee on set up to probe the collapse of F & G Event Centre at Ijero Ekiti recently.
Th building located along Ijero-Ido road, had on September 3, 2023 , suddenly collapsed on over 300 occupants during a burial reception holding in the hall, leading to scores being injured in the ensuing melee.
Receiving the report, on Friday, Mrs Afuye, said the government will consider the committee’s recommendations to curtail unprofessional conducts of some developers.
She appreciated the committee on behalf of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for doing a thorough job, saying the governor is favourably disposed to taking any action that will ensure safety of the citizens and curtail professional misconducts among developers.
“Let me appreciate you for doing a thorough job. Safety of our people is very dear to Governor Oyebanji. We thank God that no life was lost during the incident. But we must guard against reoccurrence of such incident.
“I want to assure you that all the recommendations shall be looked into and the necessary actions shall be taken on this matter”.
As contained in the report submitted by the Chairman of the Committee and Permanent Secretary,Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi, the body called for outright demolition of the Event Centre for non-compliance with building rules and regulations.
Opeyemi also tasked the Standard Organisation of Organisation (SON) to mandate producers of cement and other building materials to comply with the best production practices to solidify building structures and halt collapse.
Reeling out their findings leading to the collapse of the building, Opeyemi said: “The concrete used was of poor quality. The professionals were not on ground and there was no regular site visitations by government body.
“We also found that the project has no approved drawing. The design was not properly done while the reinforcement was used unprofessionally”.
Opeyemi revealed that developers handling any public building like schools, hotels, event centres, religious buildings, industrial buildings, shopping malls and town/family halls must get all the requisite approvals from government.
He said part of the recommendations included the establishment of a Planning Permit and Building Control Agency, warning of professionals against misconduct, rehabilitation and equipping of all fire fighting services across the local governments.
Other committee members are: Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA), Mr. Olajide Borode, Chairman, Ijero Local Government, Hon. Adeola Adeyemi, and Director Physical Planning, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development,Mr Femi Bamisaye.
Others are: Deputy Director, Public Building, Bureau of Special projects, Mr. Sunday Ariyo and Director of Administration and Supply, SEMA, Mr. Ayodeji Oguntuyi.
