Residents of Iwaya, Lagos State, have raised the alarm that one of the buildings of St Francis Junior Grammar School, Iwaya, Yaba Local Council Development Area, is in distress. They said if nothing is done fast, something tragic could happen soon. The school has two buildings where educational activities take place.

While one of the buildings, a three-storey, which used to be an uncompleted structure, has now been completed and put to good use, the second, a one-storey, is already exhibiting signs of distress, as all the five pillars of the building have cracked, with each pillars showing varying degrees of cracks.

A parent, who pleaded anonymity, wondered why the state government has continued to allow pupils to learn in such a structure.

He noted that if it were a private facility, the state buildings’ regulatory agencies would have marked the structure for demolition, including telling occupants to vacate the place within 48 hours.

“I hope something would be done quickly to reinforce the pillars since it is just the pillars that are showing signs of being distressed,” he said.

When The Guardian contacted one of the critical stakeholders in the community, an executive council member of the Iwaya Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Asiwaju Yusuf, he said the association was not aware about the development. He, therefore, promised to alert his chairman and other executive council members to verify the claim.

Days after, when Yusuf was contacted to verify if the CDA had visited the school, he was positive in his response, claiming it was true, but that they have not engaged the school authorities.

He said there are ongoing plans to engage the school authorities and other stakeholders about the danger the building poses to the students if they continue to learn in such environment.