Real Reasons We’re Carrying Out ‘Structural Integrity Tests’ On Osun Mega Schools–Experts

Relevant Selected Professional Bodies in the Built Environment have explained why they are carrying out further structural integrity tests on the Mega Schools in Osun.

The Bodies made this known on Tuesday, through a statement issued by the Team Lead, Engineer Sakariyau Ademola.

It will be recalled that one of the Mega Schools had collapsed in 2014, while a few others were said to have had some structural defects.

This necessitated the then Governor, Rauf Aregbesola to engage a Consultant to take a look at the schools. The Consultant turned in a damning report, exposing the fact that sub-standard materials were used for some of the buildings.

This prompted the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola-led administration to set up another team of experts to review the whole process and to determine the structural integrity and sustainability of the mega schools.

At the end of the exercise last month, the experts noted that findings have down that there is an urgent need to conduct further structural integrity tests on four of the schools.

The leader of the team, Engr. Sakariyau Ademola, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said after physical inspection of facilities at all the eleven mega schools, the team observed that it was imperative to conduct Structural Integrity test on four of the schools.

The affected schools are Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire; Fakunle High School, Osogbo; Oduduwa College, Ile- Ife; and Akinorun Grammar School, Ikirun.

“A Non Destructive Test (NDT) was carried out on the four Mega Schools. However, the result of the NDT carried out necessitated further structural integrity tests in which we are awaiting the result of the test,” he said.

Engr. Ademola said findings of the inspection would be forwarded to the State Government for appropriate action as soon as the assignment is completed.

The Inspection team comprises members of professional and regulatory bodies that include Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Nigerian Institute of Architect (NIA), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) and Nigeria Institute of Building.

The team was invited on 28, September, 2021 by the State Government to assist in the inspection of all the eleven mega schools across the State with a view to determining their Structural Integrity and Sustainability.