No casualty as classroom block collapses in Lagos

A classroom block in Odokekere High School, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, has collapsed.

The building caved in on Thursday during school hours.

Online videos showed residents and parents rushing to the school to ascertain the safety of their children.

Eyewitnesses said there was no casualty, as the students were hurriedly evacuated before the structure gave way.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Lagos special committee on rehabilitation of public schools (SCRPS) claimed that the block had been marked for demolition before the incident.

The committee, which was re-inaugurated on November 4, 2019, said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has ordered the relocation of the students to nearby schools to avoid disruption of their academic activities.

“The state government regrets the unfortunate incident,” the statement reads.

“However, a classified information from the SCRPS office, reveals that the classroom block had already been marked for demolition in order to construct a befitting classroom edifice that will accommodate the huge population of students in the school.

“We also wish to state that no casualty was recorded at the building collapse. All of our students are in perfect condition.

“The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has also ordered immediate relocation of the pupils to nearby schools, so as not to disrupt their academic activities.

“A team of the officials of SCRPS will be visiting the school today, to have an on the spot assessment of the incident, in order to enable government work out modalities, to begin immediate construction of an ultra-modern classroom block, that will accommodate the huge population in the school.”