By Joe Udo
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced the rehabilitation of 73 Government Secondary Schools in Abuja, marking a major step towards addressing the deteriorating state of public education infrastructure in the capital.
The move follows months of sustained advocacy by civic groups and concerned citizens highlighting the dire conditions of public schools across the FCT. Many schools have long been plagued by collapsed roofs, overcrowded classrooms, broken furniture, and the absence of basic facilities — conditions that have significantly undermined learning outcomes and widened educational inequalities.
Wike disclosed that the rehabilitation is part of a broader effort to overhaul educational infrastructure in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises education and critical infrastructure. Out of 103 Government Secondary Schools in the FCT, 73 are currently undergoing rehabilitation, while 33 additional projects are expected to commence soon.
Push for Accountability and Transparency
Civic technology platform MonitNG, which has been at the forefront of advocacy on the state of public schools, welcomed the announcement as a “major win” but stressed that words must translate into tangible results.
The organisation said it would formally request a full list of schools slated for rehabilitation to enable independent tracking, public verification, and sustained follow-up on the implementation of the projects. It emphasised that transparency and citizen participation are key to ensuring successful delivery.
“Residents, parents, teachers, and community leaders deserve to know which schools are benefiting, the scope of work, timelines for completion, and the budgetary allocations,” MonitNG stated. “This will help curb abandoned projects, inflated contracts, or substandard delivery that have undermined previous interventions.”
Sustained Monitoring Planned
MonitNG reaffirmed its commitment to mobilising citizens across the FCT to monitor and report on the progress of the rehabilitation projects. The group said its mission is to ensure government commitments produce real impact in communities, particularly in the education sector.
“Education is the foundation of national development. Every child in Abuja, regardless of background, deserves to learn in dignity,” the organisation noted. “We commend this action and will continue to follow through until classrooms are transformed and students can learn in environments that inspire hope for the future.”
