6 Injured as Event Centre Collapses during Burial Ceremony in Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji Mourns
A tragic incident occurred on Saturday in Ijero Ekiti, Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, when an event centre hosting a burial reception collapsed on its guests, injuring six people.
The F and G Event Centre, a popular building along the Ijero-Ekiti-Ido-Ekiti road, had about 250 guests inside when its roof and walls suddenly gave way, causing panic and chaos among the attendees.
According to Ademola Ojo, the lawmaker representing the Ijero constituency in the House of Assembly, no life was lost in the incident, thanks to the quick intervention of some good Samaritans who rescued the victims from the rubble.
He narrated how the collapse happened: “A reception exercise for a burial ceremony was ongoing when there was a deep crack in the wall.
“Suddenly, the roofing and Plaster of Paris (POP) caved in and fell on those who were seated inside the auditorium.
“This caused a stampede. Many were wounded in the process, while some occupants sustained serious bodily injuries and were rescued from the rubbles in record time.”
The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, expressed his deep sympathy over the incident on Sunday.
Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, visited the site of the building collapse and Ijero General Hospital, where some of the victims received treatments.
The Governor described the accident as very disturbing and saddening, and urged all government agencies to ensure that all public buildings are supervised and certified at every stage to avoid unwarranted fatalities.
Oyebanji said that the incident could have been prevented if government agencies had carried out proper building inspections and compliance with specifications, warning that such a situation should not be allowed to happen again in the state.
He assured that his government would map out strategies to make emergency management equipment available in all the local governments to respond to any alarming situation.
“Let me sympathise with the victims of this devastating incident. Nobody prays for bad things to happen, but we need to be proactive in preventing occurrences of this nature, rather than being retroactive.
“I know that if the building had been thoroughly supervised and certified fit at every stage of the erection, this incident could have been prevented.
“ It is just normal and procedural that all public buildings should be monitored and that they are built to specifications and with standard materials used because the common feature associated with building collapse now is for contractors to use substandard products.
“We thank God that no life was lost. But as a responsible government, we won’t wait until people die before taking actions that can safeguard their lives. That is why it is most expedient that all government agencies must be responsive to their duties all the time,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary of Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (EKSEMA), Mr Olajide Borode, who was also on the entourage, said that men of the fire services were immediately deployed to the spot for a rescue operation as soon as he received a distressed call.
He commended the people for initiating the rescuing operation by evacuating the occupants out of the building before the Fire Service men joined them.
He added that the Ekiti State Bureau of Special Project would conduct an integrity test on the building to ascertain whether it can be salvaged or be demolished.
This incident is a reminder of the importance of building safety. It is important to ensure that all buildings are constructed to code and that they are regularly inspected for safety hazards.
If you are planning to hold an event at a public building, it is important to check with the building owner or manager to ensure that the building is safe.
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