The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has expressed deep concern over the loss of lives in the school collapse in Plateau State on Friday, calling the tragedy avoidable.
NEMA Director General, Zubaida Umar, visited the school two days after the incident and emphasized that employing professionals in construction could prevent such disasters, which resulted in fatalities at the secondary school.
She also said: “I decided to come myself because it is such a huge and avoidable loss. It is something that could have been totally avoidable.
“It is a lesson for all of us that we need to get all developers to adhere to building codes and the plans and ensure the right thing is done.”
22 Confirmed Dead
Friday’s incident is the latest in a series of building collapses that have recently affected several parts of the nation.
According to the Plateau State Government, 22 people died and 132 were injured when the school collapsed in Busa Buji, Jos North Local Government Area.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who visited the scene, ordered the closure of the school and warned proprietors not to compromise the safety of children, parents, and teachers.
He also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a swift recovery to the injured.
Similarly, the NEMA Director General extended heartfelt condolences to the victims of the tragic event.
“We are here to commiserate with you and to also pray that the young lives we have lost that their souls will rest in perfect peace and all others that are in the hospital, may God heal them. We pray that this will not happen (again),” she added.
Umar also thanked the Nigeria Red Cross, the Fire Services, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) as well as locals for their timely intervention to the issue.