Over 200 schools across Aba face government recovery amid accusations of mismanagement and land sales
In a sweeping move aimed at recovering over 200 schools, the Abia State government has taken control of institutions previously returned to churches, individuals, and other groups.
The government’s action follows allegations that the schools were mismanaged, with some properties reportedly sold off illegally.
Governor Dr. Alex Otti’s administration has taken a strong stance, vowing to restore these schools to proper functioning and accountability.
A key part of this recovery effort is the involvement of Architect Uche Ukeje, a member of the state’s Schools Recovery Committee. Ukeje is also the Director General of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA).
He confirmed that letters of recovery had already been served to the former managers of the affected schools, many of which are located in Aba, a major city in Abia State.
According to Ukeje, the former managers of the schools, including churches and private groups, failed to meet their responsibilities.
The mismanagement allegations include the selling of school lands, recruiting unqualified teachers, and running non-educational activities instead of focusing on academics.
“This is not just about the mismanagement of schools,” Ukeje said. “It’s about the illegal sale of school properties and the undermining of education in Abia State.”
The government has given the current school managers a seven-day transition period. During this time, they must remove all personal belongings and hand over school property, records, and keys to the new government-appointed managers.
Once this handover is complete, the previous managers will no longer have any role at the schools.
Ukeje stressed that the government will not allow any further interference or attempts to reclaim the schools once the transition is finalized.
The schools in question were originally returned to their former owners under previous administrations. However, the review of their management was never carried out as per the agreements made at the time.
Over time, the mismanagement became more evident.
Some schools were sold off in parts or completely to estate developers. This, Ukeje said, was part of the reason why the state was forced to act.
“These were public assets that were supposed to benefit the people of Abia State,” Ukeje said. “Instead, they were turned into personal property for financial gain.”
According to sources, some of the schools were never properly inspected or audited after they were handed over, allowing the mismanagement to go unchecked.
Many of the institutions were also left in disrepair, with little to no attention given to their educational needs.
Ukeje’s statement confirmed that the government would permanently revoke the management of these schools from their current administrators.
This is seen as a direct response to the failures of previous administrations, who did not enforce agreements that were made when the schools were handed back to their previous owners.
At the time, the schools were meant to be managed according to specific guidelines, including regular performance reviews and oversight.
However, sources revealed that these agreements were either ignored or poorly enforced.
The result, they say, is a system where these schools failed to provide adequate education, and in some cases, were even sold to private developers.
The decision to recover the schools has sparked mixed reactions from the public.
While some praise the government for taking action, others worry about the impact on the children currently enrolled in these schools.
“I understand the government’s frustration,” said one parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “But my concern is what happens to the children who have been attending these schools. Will they be displaced?”
In response to such concerns, Ukeje assured that the recovery process would be handled with care and that no child would be left without a school.
“The government is committed to ensuring that the educational rights of the children are protected,” he said. “Our priority is to restore these schools to proper functioning, not to disrupt the students’ education.”
The government has also pledged to take swift action against any individual or group found to have illegally sold off school properties.
“We will leave no stone unturned,” Ukeje declared. “If anyone has illegally taken possession of school lands, they will face legal consequences.”
