The Abia State government has begun the process of reclaiming over 200 schools previously handed over to churches, individuals, and groups.
The state government accused these entities of mismanaging the institutions, selling off school lands, using the facilities for non-educational purposes, and hiring unqualified teachers and staff.
Architect Uche Ukeje, a member of the state government’s Schools Recovery Committee and Director General of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), confirmed the move, stating that letters of recovery had been issued to the former managers of the schools, which are located primarily in Aba.
Ukeje explained that the letters gave the current managers a seven-day period to vacate the premises, remove personal belongings, and hand over all school property, records, and keys to government-appointed administrators.
Once the recovery is complete, the government will take full control of the schools, with the former managers not permitted to return.
The state’s decision to reclaim the schools stems from a failure by previous administrations to assess the management of the institutions, as outlined in the original agreements.
This oversight allowed the schools to fall into disrepair, with some even being sold off to private developers for commercial use.
Ukeje emphasized that the recovery of these schools is a permanent measure to revoke control from the churches and individuals who had been granted ownership, ensuring the facilities are returned to the government and properly managed moving forward.
