OYO State Government has commenced demolition of 200 dilapidated blocks of classrooms in the state in line with its resolve to remove all structures that are posing security threats.
In additional, the state government said it has appropriated N5.6 billion for construction of new structures in the schools.
According to the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, who personally supervised the demolition of some of the dilapidated blocks of three classrooms housed by Ibadan Municipal Government (IMG) Primary School I, Mokola, Ibadan on Thursday said the buildings have outlived their utility.
“We decided to build a lasting legacy in the state and we have equally identified need to build more structures and renovate those ones that we can. But we have realized that there are some structures, especially those ones that were established in the 50’s with mud bricks that can no longer stand the test of time because of structural problems. They are banned in the state” Olowofela declared.
The commissioner disclosed that the demolition was at no cost to the state, as the exercise was done as a corporate social responsibility by the contractor that would build new blocks of classrooms for the school.
Olowofela stressed that the present administration under the leadership of Abiola Ajimobi-led has approved N2 billion for construction of 100 new structures in secondary schools in the state, adding that another N3.6 billion has been earnmaked for primary school structures.He, however noted that the new buildings were not part of the six model schools that are nearing completion.
The commissioner continued, “N2 billion
project has been awarded for 100 schools in our various secondary schools. We have also set aside the sum of N3.6 billion for primary school structures in the state. So, the old buildings that we inherited that are no longer useful to anybody that has now become den for criminals, armed robbers and thieves, such structures are being pulled down”.
