by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Following an on-the-spot assessment by Governor Mutfwang at the site of Saint Academy School building that collapsed on Friday, the governor has ordered the immediate closure of the school.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the building structural integrity, adding that the materials used in the construction were substandard.
The governor handed down the ordered when he visited the site of the incident and those students, who survived, in the various hospitals within the Jos Township.
This was a clear demonstration of leadership and compassion by the governor, who swiftly responded to the tragic collapse of the Saint Academy Jos building at Busa Buji in Jos North Local Government Area. The incident resulted in the loss of lives of students and staff.
Governor Mutfwang, who was deeply pained and heartbroken by the devastating incident, expressed condolences to families of the deceased, while describing the tragedy as “unfortunate but avoidable.”
While extending his gratitude to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross, and Plateau residents for their swift response, the governor said that their timely intervention prevented a higher casualty count.
The governor further announced a ban on mining activities within the Jos-Bukuru Metropolis, and directed the Nigerian Police to arrest and prosecute anyone found violating the order, so as to ensure the safety of citizens.
On his visit to the survivors at Bingham University Teaching Hospital and Our Lady of Apostles Hospital (OLA), Mutfwang expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
He urged residents of the state living in flood-prone areas to evacuate immediately, and emphasized the importance of submitting building plans to the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) for approval, in order to prevent future tragedies.
While addressing journalists shortly after the visit, Governor Mutfwang noted that, “Yesterday was indeed a black Friday for us. It was a very unfortunate incident that could have been avoided with proper governance. The building was clearly substandard and has been a danger for years.”
While providing an update on the tragedy, he reported, “As of this morning, we have lost 22 lives. Many are still hospitalized. We thank God that the casualties were not higher, as many final-year students were absent from school that day.
“This is why, upon taking office, we signed Executive Order 003 to sanitize the city and prevent such catastrophes.
“We are not out to punish anyone or be vindictive. We aim to ensure we live in a civilized society, obeying rules and regulations. This school will remain closed, and we will investigate the cause of the collapse. Our scrutiny will extend to all schools to ensure safety,” he stated.
He assured that public schools would also be inspected, and government processes would be reviewed to maintain integrity.
“Many buildings in this city were constructed without proper plans. We will enforce compliance with Town Planning laws. Those with houses along riverbanks are warned that we will ensure a safe distance between rivers and residences,” he stated.
Governor Mutfwang expressed heartfelt sympathy to families of the deceased and thanked the people of Plateau State for their support and solidarity, while calling on the public to continue showing empathy to the affected families, and prayed for God Almighty to grant them the strength to bear the irreplaceable loss.