Lagos lawmaker to rehabilitate damaged school after PUNCH report
A member representing Ikorodu Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Aro Moshood, said he had received approval from the state government to rehabilitate the collapsed school building at the Lajo Community Junior Secondary School, following a report by PUNCH Metro.
A statement from Aro Moshood’s media assistant, Razaq Babatunde, on Wednesday, revealed that the rehabilitation, in partnership with the state government, would feature the construction of an ultramodern classroom block at the school.
During a visit to the school on April 26, 2024, followed by a report by PUNCH Metro on April 30, 2024, community members expressed their frustration over the neglect of the collapsed building since April 21, stating that the damaged classroom building was disrupting their children’s education.
During a telephone interview on Sunday, Assistant Director of Public Affairs for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Ganiyu Lawal, assured our correspondent that the building would be repaired soon.
“The government is aware of the situation at the school, and efforts are underway to address the damage. However, as you know, when it comes to major infrastructural repairs beyond what schools can manage on their own, the state must carefully plan for the rehabilitation.
“Many areas require similar attention, and it will take time. Rest assured, we are working on it. We will get to the place to fix the damage,” he had said.
After the PUNCH Metro follow-up publication on Tuesday, Moshood and other stakeholders from the Ministry of Education visited the school, along with others in the area, to assess their immediate needs requiring urgent attention.
The statement partly read, “As part of the government’s commitment, Hon. Aro and the Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Schools visited the school yesterday, September 10, 2024, to begin preparations for the renovation work. This follows an earlier scheduled site inspection to assess the damage and make plans for constructing new facilities.
“The Lagos State Government’s proactive approach to addressing the issues raised by the community reflects its dedication to fostering better learning environments in schools across the state. The planned ultramodern classrooms at the Lajo Junior Secondary School are set to enhance the school’s capacity and provide students with the facilities they need to thrive academically.”
When contacted on Wednesday to confirm the report on the planned rehabilitation, the chairman of the Community Development Association, Comrade Ayo Ajayi, confirmed the visit and planned repair of the school building.
“Yes. Thank you very much. They brought a contractor to the school. The contractor said they are beginning work very soon,” he said.
