The Abia State Government has established a special committee led by Chief of Staff Caleb Ajagba to reclaim public schools allegedly appropriated by officials of the previous administration. The committee, which includes key government officials and security personnel, will focus on recovering lands from about 180 schools misappropriated by former officials and their associates.
During a briefing at the Government House in Umuahia, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, emphasized that the committee’s primary role is to identify and recover the encumbered school lands. He condemned the actions of those who have unlawfully taken over government properties, asserting that such greed and impunity will not be tolerated. Kanu also highlighted the misuse of schools that had been returned to various organizations, insisting that these institutions must be dedicated solely to educational purposes.
He noted that a comprehensive diagnostic assessment of the state’s educational sector has been completed, and plans are in place for around 12,000 public school teachers to participate in a capacity-building program this summer, aimed at preparing them for a restructured educational system set to launch in September.