The Federal Government’s investigative panel on the collapse of a two-storey school building in Jos, Plateau State, has released a preliminary report on the tragic incident.
The building, housing Saint Academy in the Busa Buji community of Jos North Local Government Area, collapsed on Friday at about 8:30 am, claiming 22 lives and trapping 154 others who were later rescued and taken to various hospitals.
At a press briefing in Jos, the Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Prof. Samson Duna, shared findings from the panel led by Prof. O.F. Job from the University of Jos. The preliminary report indicated that the building appeared distressed and was constructed with weak materials.
The report noted several deficiencies, including doubts about the quality of concrete used, inadequate slab reinforcement anchorage, and insufficient footing sizes. “The physical observation of the building looks distressed. The quality of concrete is in doubt because there was no boundary between the concrete and the steel reinforcement. The slab reinforcement anchorage provided was inadequate,” Prof. Duna stated.
He called for integrity tests on all distressed buildings, especially those near the collapse site, emphasizing the need for regular inspections and penalties for non-compliance to prevent future incidents.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in a meeting with Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and other officials, expressed condolences and urged the reinforcement of town planning laws. He emphasized the importance of strict enforcement to prevent such tragedies, regardless of the individuals involved.
Governor Mutfwang and his delegation were also in the National Assembly for a public hearing on a bill to upgrade the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences to a full-fledged university, with hopes that Plateau State would host the institution.
