The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has disclosed that N2 trillion would not be sufficient to address the infrastructure needs of the 115 Unity Colleges across the country.
Alausa disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while citing infrastructure decay and funding gaps at King’s College, Lagos, which he said were the reasons for exploring alternative management options, including the proposed arrangement involving the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).
He said the college, established during the colonial era to train future leaders, had produced prominent Nigerians but suffered significant deterioration over the years.
According to him, the institution requires substantial investment to restore its infrastructure and maintain its standards.
Alausa said he visited the school unannounced and observed poor conditions in some hostels, bathrooms, classrooms, laboratories and other facilities.
He also said the school had experienced prolonged electricity outages during his visit, prompting him to contact the management of the electricity distribution company serving the area.
According to him, electricity was subsequently restored to the Senior Secondary School section of the college.
The minister said he also observed several vehicles using parts of the school premises as a paid car park.
He said the arrangement raised security concerns because it allowed unrestricted access by members of the public to the school environment.
Alausa said he directed the cancellation of the arrangement.
He said the situation underscored the need to review the management of the college and introduce measures to attract additional investment.
The minister said KCOBA had indicated its willingness to invest substantially in the institution and rehabilitate its infrastructure.
According to him, the association told the ministry it would maintain merit-based admission and ensure students from across the country continued to have access to the college.
Alausa said the association had also claimed to have invested more than N2 billion in supporting infrastructure at the school over the years.
He said the proposed arrangement was aimed at mobilising additional resources to rehabilitate and modernise the college while retaining government ownership.
The minister said the Federal Government faced a major funding gap in rehabilitating the country’s Federal Unity Colleges.
“President Bola Tinubu is investing in infrastructure, including the sub-sector, but there’s so much, significant infrastructure gap that has happened for 40 years and we don’t have the funds.”
He estimated that even N2 trillion would not be sufficient to address the infrastructure needs of the 115 Unity Colleges.
Alausa said the government would continue to dialogue with the unions on the issue, adding that the administration remained committed to restoring the quality and reputation of the schools
