Collapsed Edo Church Building Had No Occupants, Authorities Confirm

A two-storey church building undergoing renovation in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State has collapsed, but authorities have confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident.

The structure, located along Palace Road, off Ogheghe Road on Upper Siluko Road, also housed the Faith Above Educational Academy, a school facility within the same premises.

Officials of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency (EDBCA) said the collapse could have resulted in a major tragedy but for the fact that neither worshippers nor pupils were inside the building at the time.

Managing director of the agency, Igabali Imoisili Darlington, said the building owners had repeatedly been warned to stop ongoing construction work due to safety concerns, but allegedly ignored the directives.

“We have been here several times to warn them to stop work. We told them we cannot approve based on the circumstances of the property they are developing. They needed to do the right thing but they ignored and continued,” he said.

He explained that the agency had earlier declined approval for the structure on the grounds that it did not meet required building standards.

According to him, the government’s inspection revealed issues with structural integrity and construction materials, including concerns over mixture ratios used during renovation work.

“The man came to the agency for approval but was told not to build because the plan did not meet building codes. The government of Sen. Monday Okpebholo has zero tolerance for non-compliance,” he added.

Darlington said the premises had since been sealed and marked for complete demolition, adding that the property owner would be prosecuted as a deterrent to others.

He stressed that the incident could have been catastrophic if the school or church had been in session at the time of the collapse.

Authorities said investigations would continue to determine the full extent of violations that led to the structural failure.