The Federal Government’s investigative team has produced a preliminary report on the collapse of a two-story school building in Jos, Plateau State.

Around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, the structure housing Saint Academy in the Jos North Local Government Area’s Busa Buji collapsed. About 154 people were trapped during the sad event, which left 22 people dead and sent them to other hospitals.

This was made known to journalists on Tuesday in Jos by Prof. Samson Duna, Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI). The panel, led by Professor O.F. Job of the University of Jos’ Building Department, noted major structural distress and the use of inferior materials.

“The physical observation of the building indicated distress, and the quality of concrete used was questionable, as there was no proper boundary between the concrete and steel reinforcement,” Prof. Duna stated. “The slab reinforcement anchorage was also inadequate.”

The panel’s initial findings further noted that the foundation size provided was smaller than required, measuring 1200 mm x 1200 mm.

Prof. Duna emphasized the importance of integrity tests for all distressed buildings, especially those near the collapse site, urging government and construction industry professionals to enforce stricter inspections. He highlighted a lack of regular inspections and penalties for non-compliance as ongoing issues contributing to frequent building collapses in the country.

In order to raise standards and exchange best practices, he also urged greater cooperation amongst all parties involved, including the public, government organisations, and building industry experts.