Tragedy struck in the Kwara State capital on Tuesday when a section of a fence under reconstruction at the Kwara Hotel premises collapsed, killing two construction workers and leaving another seriously injured.

SaharaReporters learnt that the workers, who were engaged in the ongoing reconstruction of the iconic state-owned hotel, were buried under the rubble of the fallen fence.

The victims were immediately rushed to Sadiku Hospital at Unity Road for emergency treatment, but two were pronounced dead on arrival.

A source familiar with the incident told SaharaReporters that the workers had earlier raised concerns about the structural weakness of the fence with the foreign contractor, Craneburg Construction Company, handling the project.

However, their warnings were reportedly ignored.

“The deaths of these workers are truly heartbreaking. This tragedy could have been avoided if proper safety measures had been in place — especially on a project of this scale,” the source said.

“We’re currently at the Janaza burial ground with the foreign contractors. It’s a deeply unfortunate situation,” the source added.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the collapse involved an old fence separating the hotel from a nearby facility.

Ajakaye noted that three workers were injured in the incident.

However, despite the first aid and emergency attention provided at the nearest hospital, two of them didn’t survive.

According to the Chief Press Secretary, “It is quite saddening. Yesterday, an old fence between the hotel and a nearby facility gave in. Three workers on duty were badly injured. One of them made it, but the remaining two didn’t survive it despite the first aids and the emergency response at the nearest hospital.

“It is very, very saddening. Their families have since been contacted, according to the facility managers,” Ajakaye said.

On January 24, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that Mustapha Mashood, an All Progressives Congress, (APC) Chieftain and former governorship aspirant has described the sum of N17.8billion awarded for the rehabilitation of the State Hotel by Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as unjustifiable and a waste of scarce resources.

The Kwara State government had approved N17.8 billion for the rehabilitation of Kwara Hotel after public backlash over the abandonment of the facility.

It was learnt that the project was awarded to Craneburg Construction Company Limited.

The project aims to transform it into a five-star hospitality facility at N17.8 billion, with a projected duration of 24 months.

However, the APC chieftain in an open letter to the Governor titled “NO ONE IS GOD, TREAD SOFTLY” dated 24th of January 2024, said the figure was outrageous considering that his company had bid for N3billion to complete the same task.