By Davies Iheamnachor

PORT HARCOURT—LAND opportunists and locals have encroached on the premises of several public primary schools at rural communities in Rivers State. In some of the schools visited, it was glaring that people have appropriated lands belonging to schools and erected residential buildings close to the classroom blocks. This development is not going down well with the affected schools as it has affected academic activities.

SOS to govt

Mrs. Letihsa Wizor, a teacher in State School 2, Aluu.

The situation at the State Primary School 2, Aluu, is quite pathetic, as residents of the area have taken over a part of the school, molding blocks and building houses on the school land. Mrs. Letisha Wizor, who spoke for the head teacher of State School 2, Aluu, on the poor infrastructure in the institution, also told Niger Delta Voice that people were seriously commandeering the school’s land.

Wizor said, “It is not in our hand to renovate this school, else we would have done it to reduce the plight of these pupils. People have taken over the school’s land and are building on it.” “We want the government to intervene because people are taking over the land that belongs to the school.

They attacked the head teacher, so we are afraid of confronting them. We use this opportunity to call on government to come and reclaim their land from people who have encroached on it. We called on the community for help some time ago, but till today no assistance.”

Environment not secure for learning 

The head teacher of State School 1, Aluu, Mr. Steven Wali, confirmed the encroachment. He asserted, “Our experiences here are terrible; they are not suitable for a school. The environment is not secure at all; people come into the school at will. To a point, some people in the community have taken over some portions of the land belonging to the school.”

Similarly, the vice principal,   administration,   Community Secondary School, Rumuj, Emohua local government area, Mr. Nmom Ndukwe,   complained, “We have problem concerning accommodation for the students and the staff. There is no office for the teachers to do their office work, so they hang around, under the trees and at the veranda, but in this rainy period,   all of us manage the small office.”

Classrooms at the school, Aluu.

“But the school is not secure at all, it is not fenced, people now walk into the school at will. They drive motorcycle by the classrooms even when academic works are on. It is a big distraction to the teaching and learning process. Even some people are encroaching.

LG not lending hand

“The local government has not been helpful but they are meant to be of help to this school because community schools are supposed to be established from the agreement between the community and the local government. I have not seen the input of the local government in this school,” he asserted.

Ndukwe said, “We are calling on them to please put up another classroom block to decongest the classes and to enable us have a free learning environment we will be happy. We call on the government to help the community to provide staff offices and reclaim its land.”

Wike steps in

Meantime, the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has warned land speculators and private property owners in the state to desist from encroaching on public school lands or face unpleasant consequences. Wike gave warning while speaking at the 2015 synod of the Evo Diocese, (Anglican Communion) held at Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girl’s Secondary School (ACMGS) Elelenwo, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

Wike, represented by his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the state government was committed to ensuring conducive learning environment. Banigo advised those that have encroached on public school lands to remove their structures in their own interest.