Civic-accountability platform, MonITNG has expressed outrage over the deplorable state of Mawagi Primary School in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
In a statement on X on Friday, the organisation urged Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, to urgently intervene.
It described the situation as dire, stressing that the collapse of the only primary school in the community has forced hundreds of children out of the classroom.
“The state of education in Niger State is heartbreaking. This is Mawagi Primary School in Lapai LGA, Niger State, the only primary school in the community. Once a place of learning and hope, it now lies in ruins. The roof has collapsed, the classrooms are unsafe, and children can no longer sit inside to learn,” the organisation said.
“As a result of this terrible state, over 512 pupils have stopped going to school.”
“There are simply no classrooms for them to learn in. Imagine the pain of young children eager for knowledge, forced to stay home because the environment meant to shape their future has been abandoned,” it added.
It further noted that the problem is not peculiar to Mawagi alone.
“This is not just about one school. Across Niger State, the story is the same, dilapidated classrooms, broken furniture, leaking roofs, cracked walls, and schools without even the most basic facilities. Parents are left helpless, teachers are demoralized, and children are pushed further into the cycle of illiteracy,” it said.
According to the group, the crisis persists despite heavy government spending on education.
“Despite billions of naira allocated in the 2025 Niger State budget for education, schools like Mawagi Primary remain in total disrepair,” it said.
“Beyond the state budget, it is also shocking that despite the ₦250 billion Universal Basic Education (UBEC) funds available for states to access, the situation on the ground remains unchanged. Where are these resources going if not into rebuilding the very classrooms that are collapsing on our children?”
It warned of grave implications if urgent steps are not taken.
“The implications are dire. Niger State already struggles with one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Every neglected classroom adds to that burden, pushing more children onto the streets, cutting more dreams short, and wasting more futures,” it said.
“This is not only an educational crisis but a social and economic disaster in the making.”
The organisation, therefore, called on Governor Bago to urgently take decisive action.
“We are calling on Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to urgently declare a state of emergency in the education sector,” it said.
“What we face requires more than small repairs, it demands decisive action to rebuild our schools, restore dignity to our teachers, and give children an environment where learning is possible. Dear Mr. Governor, our education system is collapsing.”
“The future of our children is at stake. Fixing our schools is not charity; it is an obligation and an investment in the future of Niger State. Please act now, before we lose an entire generation to neglect,” the statement read.
There have been concerns over the state of school and health facilities in Niger State.
SaharaReporters
