Following a devastating school building collapse in Jos, the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has ordered the immediate closure of the affected school and a comprehensive audit of school buildings across the state.
EduCeleb.com recalls that the building hosting Saint Academy located at the Busa Buji community in Jos North Local Government Area of the state caved in Friday morning while the school was in session.
So far, 22 persons, mostly students have been confirmed dead and another 132 are injured with varying degrees of criticality.
The school has 284 Secondary students and 145 Primary pupils.
In a press briefing at the site of the collapse on Saturday, Governor Mutfwang emphasised the need for stringent safety measures to prevent future tragedies.
The governor stressed that the closure of the collapsed school is a necessary step to ensure the safety of students.
“We can’t take any further chances,” he stated. “We need to send a clear message, particularly to private school owners, that the drive for profit must not overshadow the safety of lives.”
Governor Mutfwang revealed plans to conduct a technical audit of all schools in the state to test their structural integrity.
“It is very clear that there are buildings that were not supposed to have been built. Some were built without the right approvals or materials,” he said. “We are going to correct these issues.”
He also pointed out the role of public officials in the failure to supervise building constructions properly, saying, “I won’t just blame the school; I will also blame our public officials who were supposed to supervise these buildings and didn’t do their job.”
To address the situation, the governor announced the formation of a high-powered committee comprising building professionals to investigate the incident.
“Anyone found culpable will certainly face the wrath of the law,” he affirmed. “We cannot afford this situation any longer.”
The tragic incident has prompted a swift response from the state government to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in Plateau State.
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