Korede Abdullah in Lagos
Two construction workers lost their lives and another sustained severe injury following the collapse of an old fence at the historic Kwara Hotels site in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in the afternoon while active renovation was ongoing as part of the state government’s infrastructure renewal drive.
Once a prestigious hub in the state’s hospitality industry, the hotel—undergoing a N17.8 billion facelift awarded to Craneburg Construction in October 2023—is now a scene of tragedy.
An eyewitness, a trader nearby, described the chaos: “I was nearby selling when I suddenly heard a loud blast. It sounded like a bomb. People started shouting and running away from the site. It was terrifying.”
The victims were rushed to a private hospital on Wahab Folawiyo Road, where two were confirmed dead and the third remains in intensive care.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye confirmed the incident in a statement to local media outlets, describing it as “deeply saddening.”
He stated, “Yesterday, part of the structure under renovation gave way. Three workers on duty were badly injured. One of them made it, but the remaining two didn’t survive despite first aid and emergency attention at the nearest hospital.”
Ajakaye said the victims’ families had been contacted by the facility managers, but he declined to provide further details, directing inquiries to the contractor handling the project. Meanwhile, the identities of the deceased have not been disclosed.
By Wednesday, the entire hotel premises had been barricaded by security personnel, with no access granted to journalists or the public.
Police officers and private guards prevented entry, directing all questions to the state government and project supervisors.
Neither Craneburg Construction nor the consulting engineers have released an official statement on the cause of the collapse.
The silence from the contractors has drawn concern from local observers, considering the scale and public interest surrounding the renovation project.
The Kwara Hotels tragedy has now cast a shadow over what was meant to be a landmark development for tourism and state infrastructure.
