A primary school in the Lusa District of Bauchi State continues to operate out of a crumbling mud structure despite a N40 million federal allocation earmarked for new construction, according to a recent report by the budget tracking organization, Tracka.
The funds were officially allocated in the 2025 Federal Government Budget for the construction and furnishing of a block of two classrooms at Rafin Zurfi Primary School, Daram. However, field monitors found that no work has commenced, leaving students in a facility that has been deteriorating for over two decades.
A Legacy of Mud and Neglect
The current infrastructure at Rafin Zurfi Primary School consists of a mud-block building originally constructed in the year 2000. Following a partial collapse of the structure, the local community was forced to take matters into their own hands, using their limited resources to cement broken sections to keep the building standing.
“We tracked and report that this project has not been done and the community was not aware of this provision until our visit,” as posted on X. “The existing classroom is a mud block… and after parts of it collapsed, the community cemented the broken parts just so children can learn.”
Calls for Accountability
The discrepancy between the budget provision and the reality on the ground has sparked concerns over project implementation and transparency. Residents expressed shock upon learning that millions had been designated for a school that has seen no government intervention in twenty-five years.
In response to the findings, Tracka has issued a formal appeal to the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), which was identified as the implementing agency for the project. The organization is demanding that the agency provide the public with specific details regarding the status of the funds and ensure that the construction is executed as planned.
Urgent Need for Intervention
The situation at Rafin Zurfi highlights the ongoing challenges of rural education infrastructure in Nigeria. While the N40 million allocation was intended to modernize the learning environment for the children of Bogoro LGA, the delay leaves them trapped in a hazardous environment that fails to meet basic safety or educational standards.
As of the time of this report, the implementing agency has yet to provide a public timeline for when the construction and furnishing will begin.
Share this
