The Plateau State government has declared three days of mourning for lives lost in the Saint Academy School building collapse on Friday.
Several teachers and students at the school in Busa Buji, Jos North Local Government Area of the state, suffered injuries and lost no fewer than 22 lives when the school building collapsed during class.
The government ordered that all flags within the state fly at half-mast during the three-day mourning, which begins from July 13 to July 15, in honour of the victims of the school building collapse, in response to the tragic loss of lives and several injuries sustained.
In a statement on Saturday, the Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, made this known.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who visited the school on Saturday, extended his heartfelt condolences to families affected by the devastating incident and urged citizens to strictly follow building codes and ethics to prevent such tragedies.
He emphasized the need for all developers and property owners to submit their building plans to the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) for verification and revalidation, as part of the enforcement of Executive Order 003.
“We offer our deepest sympathies and unwavering support to those affected during this incredibly difficult time. Muftwang stated, “We are committed to providing the best possible medical care for the injured and will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.”
“The safety and well-being of our citizens, especially our children, is our top priority. We urge all schools to comply with safety regulations and secure the necessary approvals from the JMDB before beginning any construction projects.”
Chronicle NG reported that Muftwang had also announced the immediate closure of Saint Academy School and ordered a full investigation into the building collapse.
“It is unfortunate what has happened, but of course what it means is that this school is closed down immediately. We can’t take any further chances, and we need to send this message, particularly to the owners of private schools.
“The motive for profit must not overshadow the safety of lives. And so we are going to take steps immediately to do a technical audit of all the schools; we are going to test their structural integrity to ensure that human beings can inhabit such buildings,” the governor said.
Twenty-four hours after the incident, twenty-two persons were confirmed dead; fifty-eight are in the hospital receiving treatment, while the rest have been treated and discharged.
