Kwara State Demolishes Dangerous Two-Storey Building

The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate demolition of a rundown two-storey building in the Oke-Suna area of Ilorin East Local Government. The building was declared unsafe and a danger to lives and property.

The government, through the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA), also sealed the building. This followed complaints from residents who said it was close to collapsing.

On Monday, KWEPA's Press Secretary, Aliyu Amode, said this action came after community members raised concerns. The agency inspected the building quickly to prevent a potential disaster.

During the inspection, an elderly resident told KWEPA officials that the community had warned the property owner many times about the bad state of the building. The resident said the owner did not pay attention to the warnings.

The General Manager of KWEPA, Jide Aina, reacted strongly to the findings. He said the building was a serious threat to public safety. He directed the owner to start the demolition right away.

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

He also warned that the state government would take action if the owner did not follow the order.

"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," he said.

Aina emphasized that the government is serious about protecting residents by enforcing environmental rules and ensuring safety.

"The Kwara State Government remains committed to safeguarding residents through proactive environmental enforcement, strict compliance with safety regulations, and the timely removal of environmental hazards capable of causing avoidable tragedies.

"We encourage residents across the state to continue supporting the government’s efforts by promptly reporting abandoned buildings, distressed structures, environmental nuisances, and other environmental hazards to KWEPA for swift intervention," he added.