Blessing Bello, Reporting
THE death toll from the building collapse in Ilorin, Kwara State, has risen to five, with the deceased—including a mother and four children—having been buried according to Islamic rites.
The three-storey building collapsed at Popo Giwa, Ilorin, on Tuesday, around 5 a.m., at No. 41 Popo Giwa Street, beside Gogoro Mosque.
Eight members of the family were initially trapped beneath the rubble.
Eyewitness Abdulganiy Musa told Channels Television that the father of the family is a serving soldier, while the mother works as a casual staff member at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin.
Family Agrees to Demolish Remaining Structure
On the second day after the collapse, the family has agreed to demolish the remaining part of the structure, which has been deemed unsafe.
According to the head of the family, Mr Lanre Qudus, the family has vacated the building and will proceed with its demolition, as it has failed the integrity test.
The father and two surviving children are still receiving treatment in hospital, while relatives and family members have been seen paying condolences at the scene.
COREN Calls for Building Audit
The Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Bashir Lawal, has called on the government to carry out an audit of buildings across the state to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies.
He stressed the need for stricter enforcement of building regulations and regular integrity tests on structures, particularly in densely populated areas.
