The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, on Friday, inspected the collapsed building that claimed the lives of no fewer than 10 persons at Jegede Olunloyo in the Ona-Ara local government area on Thursday.
He described the building collapse as an avoidable tragedy, praying to God to console the families of the deceased.
The Deputy Governor, who expressed sympathy to the community, said that the Oyo State government is providing the victims with emergency relief items.
He added that those who sustained injury would be treated at the hospital.
During the inspection, Barr. Lawal, who was received by Dr. Temitope Kolapo Glorious, the chairman of the Ona-ara Local Government, however urged the community landlord association and the victims’ families to relate with the council chairman on what the government should do to further ease the victims’ pains.
In his word: “On behalf of His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, we have come to commiserate with the victims of the building collapse which claimed lives. As we speak now, 10 casualties have been recorded and injured people are in the hospital receiving treatment.
“We are to commiserate and condole with people because they are residents of Oyo state. We have responsibility as government and to look after them in terms of good and bad. Now is a time for a very bad incidence and we must empathize with our people.
“We have seen the collapsed building, and yesterday we instructed SEMA and NEMA on assessment visit to tell us what actually happened and what immediate response we must deploy.
“I have directed that, SEMA in conjunction with the chairman of Ona-ara Local Government, must do an assessment as well, and escalate to government.
“We have dropped some palliatives to really cater for the immediate needs of the victims. After the comprehensive assessment, we would know at the appropriate response and approach to the bad incident.”
