A yet-to-be-completed hotel structure collapsed in Idumoza Community, Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, claiming the life of its owner, Harrison Isesere, in a tragic incident that has shocked residents.
The ill-fated building, which was still under construction, came crashing down on Friday, August 1, while Isesere was reportedly inside inspecting the site. Over 20 construction workers narrowly escaped the collapse, according to eyewitness accounts.
Rescue efforts lasted two days, and Isesere’s body was finally recovered from the rubble on Sunday morning, bringing sorrow to the community and igniting concerns over construction safety.
Local residents revealed that the late hotelier had been repeatedly warned about the poor quality of materials used for the project. Speaking to reporters, Andrew Inegbebor, a neighbour, said: “The owner was cautioned about the type of materials he was using. He chose to use 12mm rods instead of the standard 16mm, and the pillars had no proper base baskets.”
According to sources at the site, no certified engineer was present during the construction, and the project was being supervised solely by the deceased owner himself. Many believe that these oversights contributed significantly to the structural failure.
The building collapsed due to substandard materials. There was no qualified supervision. Now the man who tried to save costs has paid with his life,” Inegbebor added.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement, but the incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter oversight of private construction projects in the state to prevent future tragedies.
