The two-storey building housing Saint Academy, located at the Busa Buji community in the Jos North Local Government Area of the state, collapsed on Friday at about 8:30 am, claimed 22 persons and left about 154 trapped persons who were evacuated to various hospitals.
Addressing journalists in Jos, on Tuesday, the Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, Prof Samson Duna, said the report of the panel, headed by Prof O.F. Job of the Building Department at the University of Jos, revealed that the physical observation of the building looked distressed while weak materials were used for the building.
He claimed that because there was no separation between the concrete and the steel reinforcement, the study also implied that the two-story building’s concrete quality was questionable.
The slab reinforcement anchoring for the structure was deemed insufficient by the assessment as well.
“The committee’s inquiry has already begun. According to a preliminary investigation, the building appears to be in distress physically.
Because there was no separation between the concrete and the steel reinforcement, the quality of the concrete is in question. The specified slab reinforcement anchorage was insufficient. The supplied footing (foundation) was not as large as the necessary amount (1200 mm X 1200 mm).
“After the investigation, a thorough report on the investigation will be presented,” he declared.
Prof. Duna ordered integrity tests to be performed on all troubled buildings, particularly those near the collapsed building site, and urged the government and other professional associations in the construction sector to enforce this requirement.
He claimed that the lack of regular inspections and sanctions for noncompliance was the reason why building collapses had persisted throughout the nation.
According to the information on building collapse occurrences that are currently available nationwide, he said, no one has been punished for carelessness.
In order to exchange knowledge and worldwide best practices, the NBRRI Director General recommended cooperation between stakeholders, including experts, government agencies, and the general public.
However, in order to prevent a repeat of the sad tragedy, Senate President Godswill Akpabi recommended the Plateau State administration on Tuesday to make sure that the town planning rules were strengthened.
When Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang paid him a courtesy call with a few traditional leaders in tow, Akpabio expressed sympathy to the delegation and demanded that town planning regulations be more strictly enforced.
We wish to offer our condolences for the building’s fall. What a horrifying sight, and the building wasn’t even constructed under your administration. It basically means that you need to get involved in the building sector and take action to enforce municipal planning laws.
“There are no feelings involved. Regardless of who is at fault, if someone disobeys the law or builds a structure across a stream’s path, it should be demolished as soon as the foundation is called into doubt.
“We are aware of the prior events. It seems that if someone from the upper echelons of society built a structure, no one would want to go near it out of reverence for them.
“We will never stop lamenting those children’s passing. The entire nation is depressing. So please accept our condolences on behalf of the 10th Senate. We are here for you throughout this time of loss,” he remarked.
In order to take part in the public hearing on the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2024, Mutfwang claimed to have traveled to the National Assembly with his entourage.
The governor expressed the hope that his state would host the school, which is scheduled to become a full-fledged university upon passage of the measure.
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