BY UKANDI ODEY, JOS – Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has announced the immediate closure of Saints Academy where a two-storey-building collapsed yesterday leaving a casualty figure of more than 100 injured and over 20 dead.
Governor Mutfwang, who was at the premises of the school on Saturday, July 13, 2024 where the tragedy struck, expressed shock over what he described as lack of respect for lives and decent living.
Mutfwang said the State government is going to immediately embark on a technical audit of the structures in both public and private schools to ensure that this kind of ugly incident does not happen again.
Noting that it was unfortunate that people put the motive for profit and money making above respect for humanity and the sanctity of life, Mutfwang warned other proprietors of private schools to overhaul and ensure that the highest standards are maintained in the basic requirements for such schools to be licensed by the government.
The Governor commended all those who rendered assistance in whatever form on Friday to facilitate rescue operations, and urged the people to continue in that spirit and rally round those who lost their loved ones in the tragedy, saying that this is their moment of distress.
Mutfwang specifically condemned the illegal mining especially within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis owing to its adverse effects and threats to the environment.
The Governor therefore directed the Nigeria Police to arrest anyone indulging in illegal mining stressing that such a person is a criminal.
Mutfwang, who later visited to the Bingham Teaching Hospital, Jankwano, and Our Lady of Apostle (OLA) Hospital to commiserate with victims of the incident, also announced that the State government will pay the hospital bills of all the victims, thus urged members of the public to remain magnanimous and graceful as they comfort the victims during this period of emotional and physical pains.
He also made special appeal to parents of school children who died in the incident, saying he shares their pain and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss and forge ahead.
The Governor was accompanied during the assessment visit by the commissioner for Information, Hon Musa Ashoms, commissioner for Urban Development, Joshua Ubandoma, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Sam Jatau, and other government officials.
