Looming Danger… More Classrooms on Verge of Collapse at Namnai School

 

The safety of students and staff at Government Secondary School, Namnai, in Gassol Local Government Area, hangs in the balance as two additional classroom blocks have been declared unsafe and are at imminent risk of collapse.

This alarming situation comes just days after an examination hall at the school caved in during a midnight session of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The collapse followed a torrential downpour accompanied by strong winds.

Eyewitnesses reported that the hall fell on students, an invigilator, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members overseeing the exam. Fortunately, no lives were lost due to quick thinking by staff and a last-minute rescheduling of the exam.

During a visit to the school by Taraba Truth and Facts, it was observed that the remaining classroom blocks were in an advanced state of disrepair. One of the blocks had visible cracks running across its walls, with sections of the roof already torn off—a clear indication of long-standing neglect and structural weakness.

"Very soon, the buildings remaining in this school will cave in. They are already weak, dilapidated, and ready to collapse. Just by looking at them, you'll see multiple structural defects," said a concerned staff member.

"These classrooms are no longer habitable, but we are still managing them while hoping the government intervenes."

Students have completely abandoned the most severely damaged block and now crowd into the few rooms that appear relatively safer, raising concerns about learning conditions and the risk of another collapse.