Abuja Schoolchildren Learn on Bare Ground

No Classrooms, No Desks: Abuja Schoolchildren Learn on Bare Ground
Classes suspended during rainfall, volunteers act as teachers
Civic platform Monitng calls out Wike, Kingibe to act fast

By Grateful Ogunjebe

Pupils of a nomadic school in Nigeria’s capital city are attending classes under trees, with no classrooms, desks, or formal teaching materials to aid their learning.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the situation was revealed after a field visit by Monitng, a civic tech platform, to LEA Nomadic Primary School in Rugan Wakili Buba, Paiko Kore, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Images shared from the site showed young pupils sitting on bare ground, huddled under a tree, attempting to learn in harsh weather conditions.

Despite billions allocated to education by the FCT Administration, the school lacks any classroom infrastructure or government teaching presence.

Monitng, in a post on X, called on FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Senator Ireti Kingibe to visit the school and intervene urgently.

“We call on the FCT Minister @GovWike and the Senator representing the FCT @IretiKingibe to visit this community and take decisive action,” the platform said.

The platform’s report noted that during the rainy season, pupils are unable to hold classes at all due to the open-air setting.

Community members have stepped in by allowing their homes to serve as makeshift classrooms, while local volunteers have replaced government-assigned teachers who no longer report due to poor conditions.

“Our team visited LEA Nomadic Primary School, Rugan Wakili Buba, Paiko Kore, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja,” Monitng stated, confirming that their findings were based on direct observation.

They described the school’s condition as “a harsh reality” for children in the heart of Nigeria’s capital city, who are determined to learn despite lacking the most basic facilities.

“Dozens of children take classes under the shade of a tree, sitting on bare ground with no classrooms, chairs, or learning facilities,” Monitng posted.

The group emphasised that budgeted education funds are not translating to tangible outcomes for the most underserved children in the region.

Monitng urged political leaders to ensure that policy statements are backed by visible action and investment in real infrastructure.

“Education must be a priority not just on paper or in budget speeches, but in action that reaches the most underserved communities,” it said.

Abuja Schoolchildren Learn on Bare Ground

According to Monitng, some of the pupils are willing to walk long distances just to access any form of learning, a testament to their dedication and hope for a better future.

“Children deserve the dignity of a classroom, desks, and qualified teachers. The government must do better. The future of these children and our country depends on it,” Monitng added.