A two-storey school building collapsed in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, resulting in 22 fatalities and 132 injuries. President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound grief over the disaster, describing it as a “huge loss to the nation.”
The collapse occurred on Friday in the Busa Buji area, prompting an immediate response from emergency services.
Musa Ashoms, the Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, confirmed the casualty figures in a statement released Friday evening.
“As of 6:00 pm, 154 people have been rescued from the debris. Sadly, 22 individuals have been confirmed deceased, injured students and staff are receiving medical treatment at various hospitals across Jos,”Ashoms stated.
President Tinubu, through his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Plateau State.
The President lauded the efforts of emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and security agencies involved in the search, rescue, and resuscitation efforts.
Ngelale in the statement said, “President Tinubu describes the unfortunate incident as a huge loss to the nation, as well as a devastating development – too excruciating to imagine.”
The Plateau State Government has taken action in response to the tragedy. Governor Barrister Mutfwang instructed all major hospitals in Jos to prioritize treatment of the victims, regardless of documentation or payment.
Commissioner Ashoms emphasized that the collapsed structure did not meet required building standards and warned other schools with similar structures to shut down in the interest of public safety.
Ashoms stated, “We are calling on other schools that didn’t follow plans that have similar issues to close down in the interest of our state in the interest of our people, because we have established a committee to go around.”
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of building collapses in Nigeria, often attributed to lax enforcement of construction standards, negligence, and the use of low-quality materials. Since 2005, at least 152 buildings have collapsed in Lagos alone, according to research from a South African university.
As rescue efforts continue and the community grapples with this tragedy, the incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of adhering to building standards and regulations to prevent future disasters.
