In a country where many public schools are falling apart, one group is stepping up and making a big difference. Meet MonitNG, a civic tech organisation that’s using data, tech, and good old community action to shine a spotlight on abandoned school projects — and they’re getting results.
Recently, MonitNG carried out an eye-opening investigation across seven states in Nigeria — Edo, Oyo, Abuja, Kebbi, Rivers, Benue, and Sokoto. Their mission? To check on 35 government-funded projects, mostly schools, and see what’s really going on. Spoiler alert: what they found wasn’t pretty.
Crumbling Schools and Broken Promises
Out of the 35 projects they tracked, 24 were schools — and many of them were either half-done, completely abandoned, or in terrible shape. Some had no roofs, broken floors, and no proper toilets. Kids were learning in classrooms that looked more like abandoned buildings than places of learning.
In Oyo State, their report featured a school called Balogun Oyelakin Community Primary School, which was in such bad shape that people started demanding change. The state government responded, saying it’s currently renovating 175 schools — and there’s hope that Balogun Oyelakin will finally get fixed.
Talk, Promises… But Still No Action?
Over in Abuja, construction materials were delivered to LEA Nuruddeen School in Karu, but guess what? No one has started working yet. In Kebbi State, officials brushed off concerns about a huge ₦7.23 billion road project — even though photos and complaints showed it wasn’t done properly.
Not all the news was bad though. In Edo State, MonitNG’s findings actually got the government to order a road to be rebuilt properly. That’s the kind of win they’re hoping to see more of.
Unfortunately, other states like Benue, Rivers, and Sokoto didn’t do much, even after MonitNG showed proof of decaying schools and poor healthcare infrastructure. But MonitNG isn’t giving up.
What’s the Goal Here?
MonitNG is calling on ministries and state agencies to share clear timelines for fixing these projects. More importantly, they want local communities to get involved. According to them, when regular people help monitor these projects, there’s a better chance that the money gets used the right way.
People Are Listening
The campaign has already reached over 3 million Nigerians in just four weeks! And thanks to their media partner, Sahara Reporters, the story has spread even wider. The extra coverage has helped put pressure on officials to take action — or at least explain what’s going on.
Who’s Behind All This?
MonitNG was founded by Uadamen Ilevbaoje, a civic-tech advocate who believes in using technology, transparency, and citizen power to make government work better for the people. And they’re just getting started.
They plan to:
- Follow up on the states they’ve reported on,
- Partner with more media outlets to expose the truth, and
- Train more community monitors to keep an eye on what’s really happening on the ground.
The Bigger Picture
This is more than just fixing buildings. MonitNG is showing Nigerians — especially young people — that you don’t have to wait for change, you can help create it. By using data, media, and community action, they’re pushing for a system where public funds go where they’re supposed to, and every child gets to learn in a safe, decent school.
So, the next time you pass a rundown school or an abandoned project, remember: people like MonitNG are out here making sure someone answers for it. And if you’re inspired, you can join in too.
