School children escape death as college building collapses

School children of Yemco Daycare Nursery, Primary, and Comprehensive College in Ogba, Lagos State, have narrowly escaped death when a three-storey building of school collapsed midday of Monday.

Penpushing reports that workers noticed unusual vibrations while repairing the building and immediately alerted school authorities, prompting the swift evacuation of students and staff.

The structure gave way, partially affecting a neighbouring building owned by the same proprietor., while residents described the collapse as sudden, given that the building had stood for over 20 years and appeared structurally sound from their observation.

“This is a very good school. My first daughter, who has completed her Master’s degree, started and finished her education here. From the outside, the building looked solid. I was shocked when it collapsed. The children were evacuated helter-skelter, but thankfully, no one was hurt’, a resident said.

Penpushing further reports that the resident explained that the school had engaged bricklayers about two weeks ago to repair parts of the building in preparation for an integrity test.

“The workers noticed vibrations while repairing the building while students were in class. They immediately alerted the school, and all teachers and students were asked to leave. Thirty minutes later, the building collapsed’, he stated.

Penpushing also reports that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) has since sealed off the second building to prevent tenants from entering, and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said it had previously advised the school against using the building due to safety concerns, prompting inspections by LABSCA and the Materials Testing Agency.

The Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said social media reports had exaggerated the incident, which he termed fake news.

‘This government is sensitive to the safety of Lagosians. Panic is counterproductive during emergencies. Early warnings were issued, and the school complied, which prevented what could have been a major tragedy,” he said.

Penpushing reports that he urged residents to rely on official channels for updates, as he gave out emergency telephone numbers to the public, appealing to them to stop listening  to unprofessional sources

“Our emergency numbers are 112 and 767. Contact the Commissioner of Information or these numbers for verified information. Stop listening to unprofessional sources that aim to create chaos,” he added.

Penpushing further report that Oke-Osanyintolu, however, explained that the coordinated response of government agencies ensured the safe evacuation of children and staff.

“Early warning mechanisms and compliance with safety advisories allowed us to avert a potential disaster. Emergency responders acted swiftly under the watch of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, guaranteeing the safety of life and property in Lagos State,” he said.

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