Plateau gov vows action on building safety, illegally acquired property

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has received the report of the committee investigating the collapse of a school building in Jos, the state capital, which occurred on July 12, 2024.

The governor pledged to ensure that all building infrastructures in the state undergo rigorous integrity tests to prevent future tragedies.

the two-storey building housing a school — Saint Academy in the Busa Buji community, Jos North Local Government Area — claimed 22 lives, with about 154 persons trapped.

The governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, in a statement on Wednesday, said that while receiving the report at the Twins Theatre, New Government House, Jos, with Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo; the governor commended the committee’s chairman, Prof. Danladi Matawal, and other members for their thorough and insightful work. He described the report as a critical guide for government action.

In addition to their initial mandate, the governor directed the committee to extend its scope to include assessments of the Jos Main Market and the Rockland Hotel in Laminga to ascertain the structural integrity of these facilities and enable timely interventions.

“When we set up this committee, it was during a very critical moment in the history of our state. We had just come out of mourning the loss of 22 precious children in the Saint Academy School building collapse. The committee was tasked with investigating the causes of building collapses across the state and recommending measures to prevent such tragedies in the future,” the governor stated.

Mutfwang added, “Your work is not yet complete. I expect you to assess the Rockland Hotel. Let’s conduct integrity tests on the building to determine the way forward.”

The governor also issued a strong warning to individuals in illegal possession of government property, directing them to vacate such properties immediately or face severe consequences.

He announced plans to establish a task force before the end of the month to investigate and recover all government-owned properties illegally acquired across the state.

“Anyone in possession of government property acquired unlawfully should surrender it immediately. A task force will be constituted to recover these properties, and those involved in illegal sales or acquisitions will face justice.

“Be it fraudulent letters of authority or unlawfully obtained certificates of occupancy, we will uncover the truth and take decisive action,” Mutfwang declared.

The governor also highlighted plans to restructure and strengthen the Jos Metropolitan Development Board to improve service delivery.

The committee chairman expressed gratitude to the governor for the opportunity to serve, describing the assignment as emotionally challenging given the tragic accounts of lost lives and injuries from the building collapse.

Prof. Matawal disclosed that the management of Saint Academy School failed to provide architectural drawings or obtain government approval for the collapsed structure.

He said the committee, among other recommendations, urged the state government to take decisive actions to prevent future incidents.