Communities in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State risk losing access to government projects if they fail to protect public facilities from vandalism, the council chairman, Friday Ovoke Warri, has warned.
Warri issued the warning while receiving executive members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Isoko South chapter, during a courtesy visit to his office.
The chairman stressed that the local government would no longer continue to channel scarce resources into repairing facilities repeatedly destroyed by vandals when several other communities are still in dire need of basic infrastructure.
According to him, any community where public facilities are vandalized may forfeit future government interventions, as such projects would be redirected to areas demonstrating a stronger commitment to safeguarding public assets.
While commending the NUT for reviving the Children’s Day celebration in the council area and for its commitment to improving educational standards, Warri noted that the government remains determined to extend development projects to all communities across Isoko South.
He expressed concern over recurring cases of vandalism, citing Ozaha Primary School in Oleh as a notable example.
“Some time ago, vandals entered Ozaha Primary School and vandalized a section of the school. As government, we stepped in and restored the facilities, but a few days later, they returned and vandalized them again. There are many communities with urgent needs, and it is not ideal to keep replacing facilities that are repeatedly destroyed,” he said.
Warri revealed that the council is currently distributing school desks to public primary schools across the local government and urged teachers, parents and community leaders to ensure they are adequately protected.
He also disclosed that the government would soon commence the renovation of Okugbe Primary School in Ikpedi-Irri, describing the current condition of the school building as deplorable.
“As we speak, the building of Okugbe Primary School, Ikpedi-Irri, is in terrible condition and learners can hardly use it. However, in a few months, we will complete the renovation of the facility,” he assured.
Earlier, the NUT Chairman in Isoko South, Evi Okolo, raised concerns over the growing insecurity and vandalism affecting public primary schools in the area, warning that the trend poses serious threats to both teachers and pupils.
Okolo called for stronger measures to safeguard educational institutions and advocated the establishment of an education monitoring team to track school attendance, especially on market days when many pupils are reportedly engaged in street hawking of sachet water.
He also appealed for government support to facilitate the completion of the NUT Secretariat project in Isoko South
