-we were not informed about the project, Local Education Authority
– Afaha Nsit youths are not involved in the collapsed building, youth leader
By Shadrach Okon
“I warned the project Engineer Mr Kingsley Akpabio, against the renovation project because the building is over 90 years old. If they had wanted to do the right work, they should have pulled down the whole building before doing any work on the place.” — Head Teacher
There is controversy and trading of blames over the incident that happened during the weekend where the Assembly Hall of Demonstration Primary School, Afaha Nsit, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area under renovation by Etinan Federal Constituency law maker collapsed during the weekend.
Investigation by the Guide Newspaper reveals that the renovation project of Demonstration Primary School, Afaha Nsit II was a constituency project of Hon. Paul Ekpo, the Federal House of Representatives member representing Etinan Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives.
The project which was captured in the 2024 Appropriation Bill of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was one of the projects to be executed by the Federal Ministry of Education with project code ERGP20242817 and a budgetary allocation of N35 million (N35000000).
The Guide Newspaper reporter who visited the school last Monday 25th March, and spoke with Mrs Uduak Samuel Eka, the Head Teacher of Demonstration Primary School, Afaha Nsit, Nsit Ibom was informed that the School Assembly Hall which was undergoing renovation collapsed during the weekend.
Mrs. Uduak Samuel Eka, the Head Teacher of Demonstration Primary School, Afaha Nsit II who gave further insight into the project said one Engr Kingsley Akpabio who later identified himself as the site Engineer supervising the project visited the school before the second term Mid term break and informed her that he was given a contract to renovate the school’s assembly hall.
Mrs Eka, said she had directed Mr Kingsley Akpabio to meet with the School Base Chairman, and get approval before kick starting the renovation work.
According to her, “we noticed last Friday that a section of the building had sunk when we came to school, then as we resumed from the weekend break today, we met the building completely collapsed. ”
The contractor, told us that one politician, Obong Paul Ekpo facilitated the renovation project for the school through the Federal Ministry of Education. When he said that, I referred the contractor to meet with the School Base Chairman, Mr Ifreke Abel because he is in charge of everything that takes place in the school. That was the first thing that I told him. I don’t know if he went to meet him but from what the School Base Chairman said this morning, he never went to meet him.
“The next thing I saw was that he came, unroofed the building and laid new blocks, three couches on the building, dug around the building foundation and laid blocks for the pavement. That was how the whole work just started to the level you have seen.”
The Head Teacher further revealed that she informed the site Engineer Mr Kingsley Akpabio about the building collapsed but he declined to visit the school.
According to her, “I warned the project Engineer Mr Kingsley Akpabio, against the renovation project because the building is over 90 years old. If they had wanted to do the right work, they should have pulled down the whole building before doing any work on the place.”
“We thank God that it never happened while pupils were around. I called the site Engineer Mr Kingsley Akpabio this morning, he said he was aware of the development but said that he was not coming.”
Speaking with this reporter in a telephone conversation, the site Engineer Mr Kingsley Akpabio, when interviewed about the project acknowledged that he was aware of the building collapse although he has not visited the school to see the collapsed building. He declined further comments on the occurrence and dropped the call.
“I have just heard about the building collapsed just like you have heard. I have not visited the school to see it myself. How can you just call me on phone and start asking me questions? Were you there to report about the project when it started? Mr Kingsley Akpabio, the site Engineer responded.”
Reacting to the development, the School Base Chairman Hon. Ifreke Abel, expressed dismay over the occurrence and stated that the project engineer never met him to inform him about the renovation project.
“The project Engineer Mr Kingsley Akpabio only called me on phone to find out if I was the school Base Chairman. When I told him that I was the one, he promised to come and see me anytime he comes to the community. The next thing I heard was that he has commenced renovation work on the school Assembly Hall without even coming to inform me and brief me on the details of the project as the School Base Chairman.” Hon. Ifreke Abel said.
He called on those who handled the project to restore back the building for the pupils to use the hall for their daily school devotion.
“That structure collapsed as a result of bad work. Apart from that, they do not have any right to come into the school and execute any project without the approval of the School Base Committee. If they had come, we would have asked them who gave them the renovation contract and the nature of the project. They never followed due process at all. Even the zincs and woods they removed from the building, we have not seen where they kept them. All we want them to do is for them to put back our structure. ”
Equally, the National Youth President of Afaha Nsit Clan, Comrade Ifiok Samuel, spoke on the state of the building before it collapsed.
According to him, “The building even before they came for renovation has been subjected to adverse weather condition. The foundation of the building has been already weaken. When I went to the school and saw the progress of work, I just gave the construction engineer my professional advice as an Engineer myself but he didn’t take it into consideration. I told him that the building needs to be reinforced.”
Comrade Ifiok Samuel used the opportunity to debunk the allegation that the youths of the community pulled down the building.
“That building you saw was built since 1930, this should be making 95 years. So, the foundation was already weaken. In one of my visits to the school, I saw that the engineer has dug the surrounding to introduce pavement. After that, he did not backfill those places and a mighty down pour came that night, fell on the already weakened foundation and the walls were soaked with water. That was why the building fell down. Non of my youths went to that place.”
Reacting to the development, the Education Secretary, Nsit Ibom Local Education Authority, Mrs Elizabeth Eniefiok Essien stated that neither the school management nor the contractor informed her about the renovation project.
“I have been visiting the school, I was not informed about the project. Even the contractor has not visited my office to intimate me about the project. If he had visited the Local Education Authority to inform us about the project, we would have made enquiries about it and then appoint a CLO to monitor the project. ”
Efforts to speak with Hon. Paul Ekpo proved abortive as he neither picked his calls nor responded to the text messages sent to his mobile telephone line as at the time of filing this report.
