NEMA Director General Zubaida Umar visited the secondary school two days after the tragic collapse, emphasizing the importance of engaging professionals in construction to prevent such disasters.
“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,” Umar stated.
Friday’s incident, which occurred in the Busa Buji area of Jos North Local Government, is the latest in a series of building collapses plaguing the nation. The Plateau State Government reported 22 deaths and 132 injuries from the collapse.
State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who visited the site, ordered the closure of the school and urged proprietors to prioritize safety. He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
NEMA’s Umar echoed these sentiments, offering sincere condolences to the victims and their families. “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 said.
Umar also thanked the Nigeria Red Cross, the Fire Services, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and local residents for their timely response to the disaster.
