Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has ordered the closure of Saints Academy in Jos, following its collapse which killed over 22 persons.
The state Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, who disclosed this in a statement, said Muftwang gave the order during a visit to the site of the collapsed building at the Busa Buji community as well as hospitals where the injured were receiving treatment.
The commissioner added that the governor also ordered the arrest of artisanal miners, mining around residential areas in the state.
He stated that Muftwang also commiserated with the families of the deceased children and promised that the state government would bear the cost of the treatment of the injured students.
Ashoms said the state government has declared a three-day mourning period over the sad incident from July 13 to July 15, 2024. During this time, all flags will be flown at half-mast to honour the victims of the school building collapse in Jos.
He further explained that Governor Mutfwang extends his heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the devastating incident and urges citizens to strictly follow building codes and ethics to prevent such tragedies.
The statement emphasized 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.
While noting the the state government’s commitment in ensuring the safety of lives and property of the citizens, the governor urged all schools to comply with safety regulations and secure the necessary approvals from the JMDB before beginning any construction projects.
Governor Mutfwang also extends his deepest gratitude to the people of Plateau State for their tremendous support and solidarity in the wake of the tragedy.
The statement, however, said that out of the 154 persons who were injured and rushed to the hospital, 74 of them had been treated and discharged from the hospital.