Residents urge Zaria LG to rehabilitate 6 dilapidated primary schools

Residents of Unguwar Malam Lamu and some communities in Dutsen Abba Ward, Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State have called for the rehabilitation of six primary schools in the ward.

The schools have been in dilapidated condition for over two years, with pupils taking lessons in private residences.

Alhaji Abdulaziz Sani, the Councilor representing the ward, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Zaria that the intervention would enhance girl-child education and reduce problem of out-of-school children.

Sani also appealed to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and other key stakeholders to ensure the rehabilitation of the schools.

He said that the primary schools were located at Unguwar Malam Lamu, Maganda, Yaskwake, Unguwar Malamai, and Kugu villages.

“As the councilor representing the area, I complained about the condition of the school at Unguwar Malam Lamu before Zaria Local Government Council.

“The chairman sent a delegation to assess the damage at the school with a view to restore the damaged roofs and other things affected by windstorm.

“The delegates reported back to the chairman where the council promised to reconstruct the damaged roof, but up till now the council is yet to fulfill its pledge to the community in spite of several reminders,’’ he said.

The councilor added that he also discussed the situation of other schools in Dutsen Abba Ward with the Zaria Local Education Authority, but nothing was done.

Also, Malam Halilu Nuhu, the Chairman, School Based Management Committee of Unguwar Malam Lamu Primary School said the Vice-Chairman of Zaria Local Government and the Education Secretary were at the school on several occasions.

He added that the vice-chairman advised the community to find alternative places where the pupils would have their lessons pending the rehabilitation of the affected structures.

“Based on the advice from the Council, primary 1, 2, and 3 continue their lessons in a mosque, while the remaining classes were conducted in the living room of the village head and other philanthropists,’’ Nuhu said.

He said the primary school has more than 300 pupils from within the community and neighbouring villages of Unguwar Mai-Kalwa, Dallatu, Unguwar Kanawa and Sabongida among others.

Reacting to the complaint, Aliyu Idris, Chairman of Zaria Local Government said he was not aware of the dilapidated condition of the six schools.

He said that neither the vice–chairman who was the Supervisory Councilor on Education, nor the Education Secretary had briefed him on the condition of the schools.