The state government on Saturday in a statement signed by the Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, ordered that all flags within the state be flown at half-mast during the three-day mourning which starts from July 13 to July 15 in honour of the victims.
The Governor Caleb Mutfwang-led Plateau State government has declared three-day mourning for the people who died in the Saint Academy School building collapse in the state.
At least 22 students and teachers died while dozens of others sustained varying degrees of injuries at the Saint Academy School in Busa Buji, Jos North Local Government Area of the state following a building that collapsed in the school on Friday when students were writing an examination.
The state government on Saturday in a statement signed by the Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, ordered that all flags within the state be flown at half-mast during the three-day mourning which starts from July 13 to July 15 in honour of the victims.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Governor Mutfwang, who visited the school on Saturday, ordered the immediate closure of the school and the arrest of artisanal miners mining around residential areas in the state.
“I’m ordering the closure of Saint Academy with immediate effect. And I’m also ordering security agencies to arrest any artisanal miners mining in residential areas across the state,” the governor said.
He stressed the need for all developers and property owners to submit their building plans to the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) for verification and revalidation, as part of the enforcement of Executive Order 003.
He said, “We offer our deepest sympathies and unwavering support to those affected during this incredibly difficult time.
“We are dedicated to providing the best possible medical care for the injured and will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the collapse,” Muftwang said.
“The safety and well-being of our citizens, especially our children, is our top priority. We urge all schools to comply with safety regulations and secure the necessary approvals from the JMDB before beginning any construction projects.”
The governor added, “It is unfortunate what has happened but of course what it means is that this school is closed down immediately. We can’t take any further chances and we need to send this message particularly to owners of private schools.
“The motive for profit must not overshadow the safety of lives. And so we are going to take steps immediately to do a technical audit of all the schools. We are going to test their structural integrity to ensure that human beings can inhabit such buildings."