The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the collapse of the Saint Academy School building in Jos, Plateau State, on Friday, July 12, 2024.
The incident, which has left over 40 students rescued and many hospitalised, has drawn national attention and concern.
In a statement shared with journalists on Saturday in Abuja, Minister Dangiwa expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to those still in the hospital.
He said the incident was totally unacceptable, vowing that those responsible would face the full weight of the law.
Dangiwa mentioned that building collapses are preventable and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to enforcing building standards and regulations across the country.
“We will not relent in this commitment to ensure that Nigerians can sleep in their homes, work at their various places of business, or even learn in their schools with peace of mind knowing that the building will not collapse on them,” Dangiwa stated.
He assured the public that this investigation would not be like others in the past where no one was held accountable.
He promised that anyone found culpable would face the full consequences of the law.
News About Nigeria reported that the death toll from the school building collapse has risen to 22.
Initially, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Sunday Abdu, confirmed 17 fatalities after a rescue operation at Saint Academy in the Busa Buji community, Jos North Local Government Area.
However, a fresh update from the State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, issued on Friday night, confirmed that the death toll had increased to 22, with 154 people suffering various degrees of injuries.
