By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Students in dilapidated classrooms of Methodist primary school Erekiti |
Residents of Erekiti community in Badagry, Lagos State, have raised an urgent alarm over the rapidly deteriorating state of Methodist Primary School, Erekiti a once-prestigious institution founded in 1955. The school, which has produced generations of educated Erekiti indigenes, now stands as a shadow of its former self, with only one building remaining.
Locals are now appealing to the Lagos State Government and the Badagry Local Government to step in before learning conditions worsen further.
According to teachers and parents who spoke to News Peddlers, the school’s infrastructure has all but collapsed. Out of several buildings, only a single six-classroom block remains functional. Due to overcrowding and intense heat inside, many pupils are forced to take lessons under trees.
"We merged two classes together, and some students sit outside under trees because the heat in the classrooms is unbearable," a teacher revealed. This makeshift arrangement disrupts learning and exposes children to weather extremes.
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| The only building at Methodist Primary School Erekiti |
Security is another major concern. The school lacks a perimeter fence, leaving students vulnerable. A parent emphasized, "The safety of these children needs to be prioritized. We have tried to get the government’s attention, but nothing has been done." The absence of a fence not only compromises security but also allows distractions and potential threats from outsiders, adding to the community's growing anxiety.
Frustration among Erekiti residents is compounded by what they describe as years of political neglect. One resident recalled that former two terms Lagos State House of Assembly member Hon. Suru Avoseh who is from Erekiti and once taught at the same school, failed to initiate any lasting educational projects in the community.
"We were unfortunate. Even with his connection to the school, no block was set here during his tenure, aside from the abandoned road projects he claimed as achievement" the resident lamented.
The school’s plight mirrors broader infrastructure decay in the area. Another local highlighted the terrible state of roads leading to the community, describing them as nearly impassable during rainy and dry seasons.
"If not for our personal efforts buying sand to fill potholes the road would be completely useless. Our suffering increases daily," he said. This neglect has made accessing the school even harder and reflects a wider pattern of abandonment in one of Lagos’s historic coastal communities.
With Methodist Primary School Erekiti on the brink of total collapse, residents are making a heartfelt appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and relevant education authorities to intervene swiftly. They stress that restoring the school is not just about rebuilding walls it is about preserving a legacy and securing the future of Erekiti’s children. As one parent put it, "This school made us who we are. We cannot watch it collapse".