A 13-year-old girl has died, while four other members of her family sustained injuries when a decrepit one-story building they lived in collapsed in Igede-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Reports say the building had been a longstanding fixture in the community and had succumbed to its age, leading to its collapse on Tuesday.
The ill-fated building, located in the Odo-Ori area of Igede-Ekiti, had served as the residence for the family of five.
According to report, the victim was a secondary school girl, while her parents and two other siblings narrowly escaped death, thanks to the swift action of their neighbors who rushed them to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, expressed his profound sympathy for the grieving family, describing the calamity as both devastating and agonizing.
Governor Oyebanji, during his visit to the site of the building collapse, emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue and called on residents living in dilapidated buildings across the state to relocate to safer accommodations, highlighting the paramount importance of preserving lives.
Representing the Governor at the scene, Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, also paid a visit to the Adeyinka Adebayo General Hospital, where some of the victims were receiving medical treatment.
She extended her condolences and well-wishes for their speedy recovery. Furthermore, Governor Oyebanji announced that the government would cover the medical expenses of the victims, and he directed the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (EKSEMA) to secure a suitable and habitable residence for the distressed family.
Governor Oyebanji revealed that he had instructed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, to oversee the medical care of the victims, ensuring that they receive the best care to expedite their recovery.
To prevent such tragic incidents in the future, Governor Oyebanji pledged that the Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning would initiate stringent enforcement of laws aimed at relocating individuals residing in dangerously inhabitable structures throughout the state.
The government of Ekiti State already has existing regulations governing the habitation of buildings, and Governor Oyebanji emphasized that these laws would be strictly enforced to forestall any future recurrences of such grievous incidents.
