There is anxiety among stakeholders as 200 pupils are said to be trapped in the rubble of a building that collapsed on Friday at The Saints Academy, Jos, Plateau State.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, the tragedy, as the school authority said the disaster occurred while students were sitting for their third term examination.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Ashoms, who visited the scene in the company of other commissioners, including that of secondary education, said that the school had a total population of about 400.
The commissioner said that part of the school that collapsed was accommodating about 200 students.
“We cannot however, ascertain the exact number of casualties until the evacuation is completed
“The emergency workers are doing a lot in the rescue efforts.
“The Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has urged the medical personnel in the hospitals to ensure that they save the lives of survivors.
“They should not ask for money or anything because this is an emergency situation,” he said.
The commissioner, however, said that the incident underscored the imperative of order 003 of the state government, which was meant to enforce the implementation of the Greater Jos Master Plan, to prevent such unfortunate incidences.
According to him, the collapsed school building, which was built in a waterlogged area, clearly did not meet construction standards.
Ashoms said that the Jos Metropolitan Development Board would ensure that faulty buildings were brought down, while ongoing constructions would henceforth conform to standards
