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The Federal Government’s investigative panel has issued an initial finding on the tragic collapse of the two-storey building housing Saint Academy in Jos, Plateau State, which resulted in 22 fatalities.
The collapse, which occurred on a Friday morning at about 8:30 am, also left approximately 154 individuals trapped, all of whom have since been evacuated to various medical facilities.
During a press briefing in Jos, the Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, Prof Samson Duna, shared the panel’s observations.
The investigative team, led by Prof O.F. Job from the University of Jos’s Building Department, noted several deficiencies in the structure. The building showed signs of distress, and substandard materials were reportedly used in its construction.
He said, “The committee has commenced its investigation. Preliminary investigation revealed that 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. The sizes of the footing (foundation) provided were lesser than the required number (1200 mm X 1200mm)
“A comprehensive report on the investigation will be presented after the investigation.”
Prof Duna enjoined the government and other professional bodies in the construction industry to insist on integrity tests on all distressed buildings, especially those around the collapsed building site.
He said the country had continued to experience building collapse because there had been no regular inspections and penalties for non-compliance.
He said from the available records on building collapse incidents across the country, no one had been sanctioned for negligence.
The Director General of NBRRI suggested collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, professionals, and the public, to share knowledge and global best practices
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabi, on Tuesday, however, advised the Plateau State government to ensure that the laws governing town planning were reinforced, to forestall a recurrence of the tragic incident.
Akpabio, during a courtesy call on him by the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who was accompanied by some traditional rulers, commiserated with the delegation and called for stricter enforcement on town planning.
He said, “We want to condole you on the building collapse. Such a horrific sight, and the structure was not even built during your tenure. What it means is that you have to take steps to reinforce the town planning laws and take a lot of interest in the building industry.
“No sentiments attached. No matter whose ox is gored, if somebody does not follow the rules, if somebody erects a building on a passage for stream water, once the foundation is questioned, such building should be brought down.
“We know what has happened in the past. It is as if the high and mighty in society should construct a building, and nobody would want to touch the building out of respect for them.
“We will continue to mourn the demise of those children. The entire country is very sad. So, on behalf of the 10th Senate, please accept our condolences. We are with you in this period of mourning.”
Mutfwang said he and his entourage were at that National Assembly to participate in the public hearing on the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2024.
The bill is expected to upgrade the Mining and Geoscience Institute to a full-fledged university and the governor expressed the hope that his state would be the host for the institution.
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