House member visits Ejigbo collapsed school building, pledges govt. support

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The member, representing Oshodi/ Isolo II, in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Omobowale Idimogu has visited the collapsed school building site in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of the state.

Commiserating with the management, staff and the entire community that have been affected by the incident in various ways, Idimogu however expressed joy that no life was lost.

His words, “I am aware the state government has visited this place; also the local government chairman and our Kabiyesi, we all share in your grief, and are all affected in one way or the other by this unfortunate incident, take heart. We will stand by you.

“If not that you have said the it was on Thursday the management noticed the crack and it collapsed on Saturday, I could have said it’s as a result of negligence, but from what you have said we may not attribute it so,” Idimogu said.

Idimogu & Oke

Welcoming Idimogu, who is also the member representing the area in the State House of Assembly, the Director of Excel College, Dr. Dele Oke expressed his appreciation and that of the management to him for the visit.

He said the management noticed a crack on one of the pillars of the house when a staff reported to it on Thursday 17th.

The school authority according to him made arrangements to unravel what was actually the problem, and scheduled a meeting for Saturday which had not taken place before the unimaginable occurred.

“It was on Thursday we noticed the cracks on one of the pillars, we called for a meeting with our engineers for Friday, unfortunately the Chief engineer could not come, he later called that the meeting would be on Saturday by 8:00am.

Part of the remaining building before total demolition was carried out

“Fortunately, the other guys were already on ground, but he was not as at 8:00am, he rather sent a message that he wouldn’t be able to make it till 10:00am, otherwise, we would have been inside trying to access the situation when this happened, at 8:15 am, we are so grateful to God.

Though different versions of the story have been aired and written by different media about what happened, we have as well heard different theories, the government has taken samples to test the materials used in the building.

This school was long three-story-building conjoined, with pent house, we were not running creche nor primary school here, we have only but secondary school, we are 25 years in this,” he said.

Oke said there was noting like new building that was newly erected in the place stated that the entire buildings in the compound were built same time and they rose same time also.

He thanked God, stating that though they have lost so much, and could not salvage most documents, they were able to recover the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificates delivered to the school during the lockdown that have not yet been collected by the owners.

Speaking to Nation Update, Pastor Enwere Henry, the immediate past Chairman, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school said though the investment loss was monumental, but he gives God all the glory that no life was lost.

He corroborated the statement of Dr.Oke, stated they had a meeting where resumption pattern was discussed and plan for remediating the situation and a meeting with the parents scheduled for this Saturday based on what was observed on the school building last Friday.

“I could not believe the news when I was called on Saturday about this development, because I knew the school was not taking the complaint of the recent crack for granted.

“The incident couldn’t in any way be as a result of negligence by the school management. It’s really unfortunate because efforts have been put in place to identify the problem for urgent attention.

“I encourage the parents not to be despaired, everyone that has made Excel collage what it is has been on ground. The qualitative education, the excellence and integrity for which the school is known for is still sustained, there is nothing to be afraid of,” Pastor Henry said.

An iron wielder in the area Mr. Wole Aroube who spoke to our reporter said the security man in the school was saved from being trapped in the building by a phone call he received from a friend in a nearby street that called he to his house. “it was a telephone call that took the security man away from being inside the building when it collapsed,” he said.

When the news of the collapsed building broke on Saturday, the Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, in his response stated that upon arrival at the incident scene, it was observed that a 3-Storey building (Excel College) had collapsed.

He said distress calls received established that the building collapsed at about 8:15am.

He said: “Information gathered from some officials of the school revealed that the building had previously shown signs of distress and the school was planning to renovate and refortefy the structure.

The three-story building has two wings conjoined, the wing that collapsed has seriously affected the second wing as visible cracks can be seen on the walls, pillars and decking.

LASEMA officials at the Ejigbo building

“Fortunately, nobody was trapped, no injuries and no fatality has been recorded. Responders to the incident scene are LASEMA, LASBCA, Police (Ejigbo Division).”

Sequel to the collapse of the Excel collage, located at 15 Ansarudeen Street, Ile-Epo Bus Stop, Ejigbo, on Saturday 19 September, the state governor, Babajide Sonwo-Olu has directed the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to carry out integrity test on both public and private schools with buildings of 3 floors and above.