At least 248 pupils of Kigbe Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in Yebu Ward, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been forced to learn while sitting on bare floors and makeshift wooden planks for more than eight years, a civic technology organisation, TrackaNG, has said.
In a report released on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the organisation called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; Senator Ireti Kingibe; and Hon. Nuhu Daniel Kwali to urgently intervene and provide basic facilities for the school.Photographs and video footage accompanying the report showed pupils learning in classrooms with deteriorated floors, exposed earth and poorly maintained walls, raising concerns about their safety, dignity and well-being.
TrackaNG described the situation as unacceptable, questioning why hundreds of children had continued to learn under such conditions for more than eight years without essential classroom furniture and other facilities.The organisation said the pupils deserved proper desks and chairs, clean and secure classrooms, adequate ventilation and a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning. It also warned that the poor facilities could affect the children’s health and academic performance, particularly amid rising temperatures and the risks associated with extreme heat.
According to TrackaNG, unsuitable seating arrangements and poorly maintained classrooms could cause discomfort, fatigue and dehydration, while making it difficult for pupils to concentrate on their studies.“Education is a fundamental right, not a privilege that should depend on a child’s location or circumstances,” the organisation said. It added that the children of Kigbe should not have to endure degrading conditions as the price of accessing education.“Eight years is far too long for 248 children to learn without basic classroom furniture and a decent learning environment. Education must not mean enduring indignity,” TrackaNG stressed.
The organisation urged the relevant authorities to provide the infrastructure and facilities needed to guarantee safe and effective learning at the school. It said every child deserved an educational environment that protected their health, preserved their dignity and offered them a fair chance to succeed. The report has renewed concerns about the state of basic education infrastructure in underserved communities across the FCT, particularly in rural areas where access to quality learning facilities remains a challenge. TrackaNG maintained that urgent action was needed to end the prolonged hardship faced by the pupils and ensure they could learn in a safe and decent environment.
