A building collapse in Osogbo, Osun State, has resulted in three people being trapped and two rescued.

 The uncompleted story building, which was often occupied by hoodlums, collapsed around 8 am on July 14, 2024.

 A loud sound was heard in the neighborhood as the building suddenly went down. 

 A resident of the area, Alaran, who is also a member of Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, reported that the building was not being inhabited by anyone but was often used by people to hide and engage in illicit activities.

 “The incident happened between 7:30 and 8:am this morning (Sunday). A loud sound was heard. The house is not being inhabited by anyone. But some people usually hide there to smoke or gamble. Some people were trapped," he said.

 Kehinde Adeleke, the spokesperson of the Osun State Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in a statement said two people have been rescued so far as time of report, while the remaining three are still trapped under the decking.

 Security operatives from the NSCDC, the state police commissioner, and his team, officials of the Osun State Environmental Management Agency (OSEMA), and other government officials are on the scene to ensure the safety of the victims. 

 The state government, led by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Mayowa Adejorin, has inspected the area and discovered another building in poor condition.

 The team is working with other relevant ministries to prevent a similar occurrence. 

 “We inspected the collapsed building and discovered it has no building plans. We are reaching out to other related MDAs to enforce the Governor’s directive,” Hon. Adejorin stated. 

 Governor Ademola Adeleke has warned developers and residents against constructing houses without approved building plans, threatening to bulldoze poorly built houses that pose a threat to human safety. The Governor's spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, stated that the Governor has directed the Ministry of Lands to step up enforcement of approved building plans by developers and residents. 

 “A building plan is not an optional step in the construction process as it prevents substandard houses that frequently collapse and pose safety risks to occupants and the environment,” the governor said.

 “I am using this medium to direct the Ministry of Lands to step up enforcement of approved building plans by developers and residents. Our officials must go to the estates and development areas to ensure houses are constructed according to approved plans.

 “We need to save lives by ensuring that houses are built to standard. We must also be proactive by testing the strength of houses before a human tragedy occurs. Substandard houses, once identified, should be pulled down before they collapse. 

 “We will sanction those who refuse to comply with the condition of approved building plans. I further direct relevant agencies to pull down substandard houses before they cause harm. We must not wait for lives to be lost before we act,” Governor Adeleke affirmed.