Outcry in Kwara as public facilities collapse

Kwara map

In Warah Community, barely a few kilometres from the Ilorin West Local Government Secretariat in Kwara State, the school day was already in progress when Arewa PUNCH arrived at about 12:39 pm on that swelting weekday.

The cacophony of teachers’ voices echoed across the compound. Students responded in unison. Lessons were ongoing. But beneath that rhythm of normalcy, a closer look revealed a deeper, unsettling reality: one that speaks to neglect, resilience, and a system struggling to hold itself together.

A visit by our correspondent to Warah Community Junior Secondary School revealed that while teaching was in progress, it was taking place inside crumbling classrooms, under makeshift shelters, and within an unfenced environment that exposed both the students and facilities to risk.

– A school without boundaries

The unprotected nature of the school was immediately evident as our correspondent walked closer o the school premises.

It was observed that there is no fence around the school; no gate, no defined perimeter, and no form of access control. Residents were seen moving freely across the premises even as classes were ongoing, using the school compound as a passageway.

Residents around the school’s neighbourhood readily lamented that the lack of fencing raises serious safety and security concerns, as it leaves both students and school property vulnerable to intrusion and disruption.

A community member who spoke on the condition of anonymity underscored this concern. “Anybody can walk into the school at any time. There is no restriction,” he said.

The resident explained that the absence of boundaries has long been a concern for the community, particularly as it affects discipline and the general learning environment.