Kogi Poly declares Three-Day free lecture over Tanker Explosion

The Management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has declared Wednesday 23rd to Friday 25th September as Lecture-free days, in honour of members of the Polytechnic community affected by the tanker explosion that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, 23rd September.

According to a statement issued by Head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of the Polytechnic, Mrs. Uredo Omale, the decision was reached at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting of the institution.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the stakeholders, comprising of the Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, the Chief Security Officer, the Public Relations Officer and Student Union Leaders, also resolved that normal academic activities are to continue on Monday, 28th September.

A vital decision at the meeting was the setting up of a Committee to do a careful and thorough identity check of members of staff and students affected by the inferno, with the view to ascertaining the nature and level of damage done to them.

The Committee, Chaired by the Dean, School of Arts, Design and Printing, Mr. Pedro Peter Akande, immediately swung into action and has so far reported that three members of staff sustained injuries in the incident.

The identified members of staff who, though sustained minor injuries, were rushed to the Hajiya Hauwau Oziohu Bello (Polytechnic) Health Centre, treated and discharged immediately. They are in very stable conditions.

While details of the identities of those affected by ways of death or injuries were yet to be fully ascertained, Management and the entire Polytechnic deeply mourn and sympathise with victims and their families over the sorrowful incident.

The Polytechnic will avail members of the public with details of members of staff and students who might have lost their lives or sustained severe injuries as accurate details are unraveled in conjunction with relevant security agencies. 

Members of the public, especially parents, are enjoined to exercise patience in respect of the exact details of the victims as immediate identification of victims in such a carnage is a huge challenge.

The statement reads in part: "The Polytechnic Management is determined to provide succour and support to identified victims immediately the details of such victims are ascertained.

"Once again, the  Acting Rector, Dr. S.O. Usman, Management and the entire Polytechnic deeply commiserate and sympathise with victims and families of those affected by the highly regrettable incident.

"We pray that God, in His infinite mercy, grants the soul of those who lost their lives in the inferno a peaceful repose and wish those who sustained various degrees of injuries speedy recovery".

×