A civic technology platform, Monitng, in a statement on Wednesday exposed the deplorable condition of the school, painting a grim picture of children robbed of education in Nigeria’s capital city.
The LEA Primary School Makanima in Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT, has become a ghost of learning, three years after a violent windstorm ripped off its roof and left classrooms exposed to the elements.
A civic technology platform, Monitng, in a statement on Wednesday exposed the deplorable condition of the school, painting a grim picture of children robbed of education in Nigeria’s capital city.
It reported that what remains are cracked walls, collapsed ceilings, broken desks and chairs, and weeds choking a school that once buzzed with the laughter of children.
Hundreds of pupils have stopped attending, while those who remain are sometimes forced to learn under trees — if the weather permits.
The statement reads in part; “This is the current condition of LEA Primary School Makanima in Abuja Municipal Council, FCT.
“Three years ago, a violent windstorm tore the roof off the school, and since then, the classrooms have been left exposed and unsafe. Today, cracked walls, collapsed ceilings, broken furniture, and overgrown weeds define a place that should nurture learning.
“For the children, education has become a luxury rather than a right. Hundreds of pupils have stopped attending because there are no functional classrooms left to learn in. The sound of their laughter that once filled the playground has been replaced with silence. Dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, and teachers are slowly being crushed by neglect.
“Parents are left with impossible choices. A few, stretching themselves thin, have moved their children to private schools, but the majority cannot afford that option. These families have resigned themselves to fate, with many children now working on farms, their small hands wielding hoes instead of holding books. Meanwhile, their peers in the city enjoy quality education in well-maintained schools."
The group asserted that teachers, too, have been left demoralised, with no functional classrooms to work in.
“Teachers, too, are frustrated and demoralised. With no proper classrooms to teach in, lessons are sometimes held under trees, weather permitting. How can these children ever compete fairly with others in well-equipped schools across Abuja?
“The inequality is glaring, the neglect shameful. This tragedy is unfolding in Nigeria’s capital city, a place that should symbolise progress and opportunity.
“In 2025 alone, ₦121billion in 2024 UBEC funds was released to 27 states, including the FCT, yet communities like Makanima remain abandoned. Where has the money gone? Why must children in underserved areas continue to suffer because leaders fail to prioritize education?
“Senator @IretiKingibe has not addressed these glaring gaps, diverting focus to projects like health facilities that now lie abandoned and swallowed by weeds.
“The FCT Minister may be praised for road construction, but roads alone cannot educate children. A classroom is as important as a highway, if not more. The billions sunk into massive city-center projects like the ICC could instead transform public schools across satellite communities.
“A true capital is not measured only by skyscrapers or highways but by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens—its children. Abuja must rise to this responsibility. Every child deserves safe classrooms, trained teachers, and equal opportunities. The children of Makanima are waiting, and their future cannot remain on hold,” the statement added.
EXPOSED!!!
Dear FCT Minister @GovWike and Senator @IretiKingibe,
This the current condition of LEA Primary School Makanima in Abuja Municipal Council, FCT, Abuja.
Three years ago, a violent windstorm tore the roof off the school, and since then, the classrooms have been left… pic.twitter.com/EKE2ddaygS
— MonITNG (@monitng) September 9, 2025