The DG NEMA visited the survivors of the collapsed school building in Jos at the hospital where they are receiving medical care and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the building site that resulted in the loss of many young lives and left several others injured earlier today.
During the the visit the DG said It is crucial that we collectively advocate for stringent measures to enhance building safety across Plateau State and our entire country. The ugly incident must serve as a wake-up call for responsible authorities to review and refine the enforcement and compliance to building regulations to avoid irreparable losses of lives of our loved ones.
Incidences of building collapses in the country are quite worrisome as most of them are avoidable as they do not stem from natural causes but largely as a result of human factors. Both developers and building regulators must live up to their responsibilities.
The government at various levels must begin to implement comprehensive risk reduction measures, including regular structural integrity tests for buildings and stringent enforcement of building codes. The conduct of environmental impact assessment before embarking on building projects must be treated as a matter of priority.
At a meeting with Gov. Caleb Mutfwang at the Government House, the DG assured the state government of it readiness, as an agency, to collaborate with the state in promoting safer living and learning environments for all residents of the state.