Following the unfortunate collapse of the Saint Academy School building in the Busa Buji area of Plateau State on Friday, 12 July 2024, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has directed the Plateau State Controller of the Ministry to embark on an immediate and comprehensive investigation to ascertain the cause of the collapse and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
Reacting to the tragic incident, the Minister described the collapse as yet another unfortunate tragedy for the nation which he said was due to negligence especially during the construction process of the building.
“Unfortunately, the issue of building collapse has once again reared its ugly head in our nation. This is unacceptable because every time something like this happens, there’s a mother or father who has lost a child, a child who has lost a parent, or an individual who has lost a sibling or friend”.
“The cost of building collapse cannot be quantified because lives are involved. In this case, it was a school with students whose only offence was to leave their homes in search of knowledge. This is totally unacceptable”.
“I have directed an investigation, and we will get to the bottom of this. I want to assure Nigerians that this investigation will not go the same way as others in the past where nobody is prosecuted for wrongdoing. We will ensure anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law. I know that prosecution will not bring back those we have lost to this tragedy, but it will serve as a deterrent to others who may be involved in such practices,” he noted.
Dangiwa further noted that while it may be difficult to rewrite the wrongs of the past, the Ministry is committed to ensuring that the incidence of building collapse is prevented in the future by collaborating with relevant agencies to enforce building standards and regulations in the country. This is evident in the strong warnings issued to developers of ongoing Renewed Hope Cities and Estates projects in the country, as well as control and monitoring mechanisms set up by the Ministry.