Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has acquired the report of the committee investigating the collapse of a faculty constructing in Jos, the state capital, which occurred on July 12, 2024.
The governor pledged to make sure that all constructing infrastructures within the state bear rigorous integrity checks to forestall future tragedies.
PUNCH On-line stories that the two-storey constructing housing a faculty — Saint Academy within the Busa Buji neighborhood, Jos North Native Authorities Space — claimed 22 lives, with about 154 individuals trapped.
The governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, in an announcement on Wednesday, mentioned that whereas receiving the report on the Twins Theatre, New Authorities Home, Jos, with Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo; the governor recommended the committee’s chairman, Prof. Danladi Matawal, and different members for his or her thorough and insightful work. He described the report as a vital information for presidency motion.
Along with their preliminary mandate, the governor directed the committee to increase its scope to incorporate assessments of the Jos Primary Market and the Rockland Resort in Laminga to establish the structural integrity of those services and allow well timed interventions.
“Once we arrange this committee, it was throughout a really vital second within the historical past of our state. We had simply come out of mourning the lack of 22 valuable kids within the Saint Academy Faculty constructing collapse. The committee was tasked with investigating the causes of constructing collapses throughout the state and recommending measures to forestall such tragedies sooner or later,” the governor said.
Mutfwang added, “Your work will not be but full. I anticipate you to evaluate the Rockland Resort. Let’s conduct integrity checks on the constructing to find out the way in which ahead.”
The governor additionally issued a powerful warning to people in unlawful possession of presidency property, directing them to vacate such properties instantly or face extreme penalties.
He introduced plans to determine a activity power earlier than the tip of the month to analyze and recuperate all government-owned properties illegally acquired throughout the state.
“Anybody in possession of presidency property acquired unlawfully ought to give up it instantly. A activity power can be constituted to recuperate these properties, and people concerned in unlawful gross sales or acquisitions will face justice.
“Be it fraudulent letters of authority or unlawfully obtained certificates of occupancy, we’ll uncover the reality and take decisive motion,” Mutfwang declared.
The governor additionally highlighted plans to restructure and strengthen the Jos Metropolitan Improvement Board to enhance service supply.
The committee chairman expressed gratitude to the governor for the chance to serve, describing the task as emotionally difficult given the tragic accounts of misplaced lives and accidents from the constructing collapse.
Prof. Matawal disclosed that the administration of Saint Academy Faculty failed to offer architectural drawings or acquire authorities approval for the collapsed construction.
He mentioned the committee, amongst different suggestions, urged the state authorities to take decisive actions to forestall future incidents.