THE Oyo State Government has sealed off a building site belonging to a well-known restaurant in the Dugbe area of Ibadan after the structure collapsed yesterday night during a heavy rainstorm.
The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, revealed this after inspecting the site.
He stated that the closure aims to prevent further harm, protect lives and property, and allow for a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the collapse.
Preliminary findings indicate that substandard and low-quality materials were used in the building’s construction.
The commissioner added that structural integrity tests would be conducted not only on the collapsed building but also on other branches of the restaurant within the state to prevent similar incidents.
He emphasized that the government’s next steps would be guided by the results of these tests.
This incident follows a similar tragedy in October 2024, when 10 people died and several others were injured after a building collapsed in the Jegede area of Olunloyo, Ibadan.
In a statement, the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed that the agency received a distress call around 2 a.m. from residents reporting the building collapse, which left many trapped under the debris.