The roof of the newly constructed prototype building of St. Andrews Primary School, Ipaja, has started deteriorating, raising concerns among residents about the quality of the work done by the contractors.
Located close to the roundabout at Church Bus stop, Ipaja, the level of dilapidation of the less-than-two-years old structure can be seen from a far distance.
The school is situated under the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area.
A concerned resident, Lukman Odunewu, told Community Standard that in December 11, 2024, he had raised the concern on the need for the authorities to fix the roof ahead of school resumption for the second term on January 6, 2025, to guarantee the safety of the pupils and protect the integrity of the building.
According to him, “it is an eyesore to sight this at such strategic location in the community. A building that was just delivered and a large percentage of the roof and ceiling is already destroyed.”
Despite his appeal, the situation has only worsened.
Odunewu lamented that structures constructed over decades ago in the area are still standing strong and stable, while a newly constructed one by the government is already failing just under two years of its delivery.
“The roof continues to deteriorate daily without any form of official attention or remedial action. It is disheartening to watch a newly completed public building crumble before our eyes, while similar structures in the area – constructed decades ago – remain intact and stable,” he said.
“We cannot help but question: would such poor delivery be accepted if the building belonged to a government official or an influential individual within our Ayobo-Ipaja community? Certainly not. A contractor delivering substandard work in such a case would be held accountable immediately.
“This building is one of the very few visible dividends of governance accessible to the ordinary citizen in our locality. We demand better. Our people deserve quality, durability, and respect for public resources” he said.
He, therefore, called on the leadership of the Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA and the Lagos State Government to treat this issue with the urgency and seriousness it deserves, noting that “it is an eyesore and a symbol of neglect to witness the school roof being torn by wind daily while those in authority remain silent.”
“The children of the masses deserve a safe and secure learning environment. Let us not fail them,” he added.
One of the greatest challenges we face in Nigeria is poor project implementation and bad maintenance culture.
Imagine the situations of the students learning under this horrible environment?!
I hope the authorities will come in to fix on time
The project was substandard. Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA and Lagos State Government should take responsibility for this edifice.
The integrity of the entire building too need to be tested. The poor job execution will not be limited to the roof, I guess.