Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has issued a strong warning to developers and residents against constructing buildings without approved plans.
This directive follows a recent tragic building collapse in the Ayetoro area of Osogbo, which highlighted the severe risks of substandard construction.
The incident in Ayetoro, where a building collapse led to potential threats to lives and properties, prompted Governor Adeleke to stress the critical importance of securing official building approvals. He explained that building plans are not optional but a necessary step to ensure the safety and durability of construction projects. “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,” Adeleke stated.
He emphasized that proper enforcement of building regulations is essential to prevent the construction of substandard structures that can lead to disasters. “We need to save lives by ensuring that houses are built according to standard. We must also be proactive by testing the strength of houses before human tragedy occurs. Substandard houses once identified should be pulled down before fatal 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 wreck havoc. We must not wait for lives to be lost before we act,” Adeleke affirmed.
In response to the Ayetoro collapse, a government delegation led by Hon. Mayowa Adejorin, the Commissioner for Environment, visited the site to assess the damage and initiate government actions. Adejorin, accompanied by Hon. Emiola Fakeye, the Governor’s Special Adviser on OSEMA, inspected the collapsed building and found another structure in poor condition. “We inspected the collapsed building and we discovered it has no building plans. We are reaching out to other related MDAs to give effect to the Governor’s directive,” Adejorin reported.
The delegation’s inspection is part of a broader effort to prevent future building collapses and ensure compliance with construction regulations. The team is collaborating with various ministries to implement the Governor’s directives and address the issues uncovered during their visit.
