Umuahia, Abia State – Governor Alex Otti is under mounting scrutiny after his administration reportedly spent ₦54 billion in just three months on the rehabilitation and renovation of public schools, with critics questioning the quality of work delivered under the so-called “smart schools” initiative.
The controversy intensified when the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Ferdinand Ekeoma, released photographs of newly built or renovated schools claimed to be part of the state’s smart education programme. Instead of praise, the images sparked a wave of online criticism, with many Abia residents questioning whether the projects justified their massive price tag.
Civil Society Demands Transparency
Earlier, the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) had submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education. The group sought:
- A full list of all public schools that benefited, including names and locations
- A detailed breakdown of how the ₦54 billion was allocated for renovations, new constructions, teaching materials, and teacher recruitment
FENRAD’s intervention came amid growing calls for accountability in the state’s capital spending, particularly on education.
Public Outrage Over Quality of Work
Several residents took to Facebook to express disappointment over the state of the projects:
- Nnamdi Nweze wrote:
“This ‘smart’ isn’t smarting at all. Compare this to what Peter Mbah is building in Enugu or what Rotimi Amaechi built in Rivers between 2007 and 2015. With a reported monthly revenue of ₦38 billion, Abia should be delivering much higher quality projects.”
- Oliver Uche sarcastically referred to them as “#Abia_devised_Smart_Schools,” questioning how the billions spent could be justified.
- Ugochukwu Chidi said:
“What’s smart about this renovated school building to justify ₦54 billion? This is not ₦54 million.”
- Engr Ogbonna Solomon Chibuzor bluntly added:
“So na like this una take shop our 54 billion? Kia, new Abia indeed.”
- Obiefuna Okorie Joshua accused the administration of passing off repainted old buildings as smart schools:
“This mediocrity can’t be what you call a smart school. Shame should catch you.”
Even some supporters admitted the situation was hard to defend. Jehoshaphat Onyekachi wrote:
“Nawa o. I can’t defend this one to the opposition.”
Budget Figures Raise More Questions
According to budget performance documents reviewed by SaharaReporters, the ₦54 billion figure covers spending between October and December 2024 alone. This brought the total amount spent on school rehabilitation/renovation in 2024 to ₦58 billion.
By contrast, in 2023, only ₦956 million was budgeted for the same purpose, and as of the third quarter of that year, just ₦25 million had been spent.
The drastic spending increase, coupled with public dissatisfaction over quality, has fueled debate about value for money, project oversight, and the state’s overall approach to educational development.
