A preliminary report has been released by the investigative panel established by the Federal Government concerning the collapse of a two-storey school building in Jos, Plateau State.
The building, housing Saint Academy in the Busa Buji community of Jos North Local Government Area, collapsed on Friday at approximately 8:30 am. The tragic incident resulted in 22 fatalities and left around 154 individuals trapped, who were subsequently evacuated to various hospitals.
During a press briefing in Jos on Tuesday, Prof. Samson Duna, Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), disclosed the panel’s findings. Headed by Prof. O.F. Job from the Building Department of the University of Jos, the panel observed significant distress in the building and identified the use of substandard materials.
“The physical observation of the building indicated distress, and the quality of concrete used was questionable, as there was no proper boundary between the concrete and steel reinforcement,” Prof. Duna stated. “The slab reinforcement anchorage was also inadequate.”
The panel’s initial findings further noted that the foundation size provided was smaller than required, measuring 1200 mm x 1200 mm.
Prof. Duna emphasized the importance of integrity tests for all distressed buildings, especially those near the collapse site, urging government and construction industry professionals to enforce stricter inspections. He highlighted a lack of regular inspections and penalties for non-compliance as ongoing issues contributing to frequent building collapses in the country.
He also called for increased collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, construction professionals, and the public, to improve standards and share best practices.
In a related development, Senate President Godswill Akpabio advised the Plateau State government to strengthen town planning laws to prevent such incidents in the future. During a courtesy visit by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and traditional rulers, Akpabio expressed condolences and stressed the need for rigorous enforcement of building regulations.
“We extend our condolences on the building collapse. This tragic event underscores the necessity to reinforce town planning laws and ensure compliance,” Akpabio said. “Regardless of the individual’s status, any structure that violates regulations, especially those impeding natural water passages, must be demolished.”
Governor Mutfwang, visiting the National Assembly for a public hearing on the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2024, expressed his aspiration for the institute to be upgraded to a university, with Plateau State as its host.
