One of the newly completed buildings in a mega school project billed for commissioning in Ejigbo, Osun State yesterday collapsed, leaving two persons critically injured.
Although no life was lost, the state government has dismissed suggestions the structure was built using sub-standard building materials noting that all standard tests were carried out. The government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola said it suspects foul play.
According to a statement by Aregbesola’s spokesman, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the government insisted that the building came down after a loud bang.
“The government of Osun State regrets to inform the public of the suspect incident of the collapse of the Main Hall of the newly completed ultra-modern High School, Ejigbo, Osun State.
“Information at the disposal of the government indicates that the Main Hall, which had been completed along with other classrooms of the school, came down at about 6am Wednesday after a loud bang was heard by those who were within the hall and others within the vicinity of the project.
“As a responsible government, it is too early for us to say what the cause of the collapse is until we have fully investigated.
“However, it must be stated here that all necessary quality assurance tests were carried out to ensure structural durability and integrity of the project just as in other projects under this administration.
“Engineers from the Osun Ministry of Works and the Structural Engineering section of the Nigerian Society of Engineers have been dispatched to the site to establish the cause of this unfortunate incident,” the statement read.
