A Non-Governmental Organisation, Plan International Nigeria, has called on the federal and state governments as well as stakeholders in education sector to take issues concerning safety in schools more seriously to prevent more tragedies.
The Country Director of the organization Dr Hussaini Abdu gave the advice last Friday in Abuja, while sympathising with parents of some children who lost their lives in the recent three-storey building that collapsed at Itafaji, Lagos Island.
Abdu, however, called on the Lagos state government to launch an inquiry into the incident and ensure that all persons found culpable for dereliction of duties were punished.
“We commensurate with parents of children who lost their lives in the building collapse in Lagos, which also involved a school.
“We urge governments at all levels, as well as education stakeholders to take it as a signal to further take issues of safety in schools seriously.
“We call on the Lagos state government to launch an inquiry into the incident and ensure that those found culpable in dereliction of duty that resulted to the collapse face the law,’’ he said in a statement.
Abdu also called on governments at all levels and education stakeholders in the country to take urgent steps to prioritise the protection of the Nigerian child.
He called for the immediate implementation of the “Safe School Declaration’’, which Nigeria endorsed in March 2018.
