Snakes invade FG girls’ college in A’Ibom

Parents of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Ikot Obio Itong, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have blamed the Federal Government for the invasion of the college’s dormitory by snakes.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the invasion of reptiles in the hostel was due to a bush which covered the back of the dormitory. It was also learnt that grass grow on top of the hostel’s roof.

Besides, some deep holes behind the hostel were said to have provided habitation for the snakes.

A member of the Parent Teacher Association of the college, Mr. Bassey Eyo, said the deplorable state of infrastructure in the college had created cause for concern.

He maintained that the development was caused by a long neglect of the college by the Federal Government.

Eyo told our correspondent that the situation was so bad that the principal had to vacate her office and had to take refuge in one of the classrooms she converted to be her new office.

“Snakes are a natural phenomenon here. The walls have fallen apart, the college is not properly fenced or fumigated; the place has become a haven for reptiles. Many pupils of the school have been complaining of invasion of reptiles in the college.

“Since the inception of the college, first as a teachers’ training college for more than 40 years, nothing has been added to reflect its new status as a Federal Government institution for grooming girls.

“Even in your house, when you allow dilapidation to set in, snakes could find a place to live. Look at the structures, the walls and the hostels, the ground itself has opened up due to a long period of neglect.

“Due to the deplorable state of infrastructure in the college, the dormitory, the staff quarters, the principal office, even some classrooms are in a terrible state.

“It is hard to imagine that this is where government wants to produce future leaders from. I am appealing to all the authorities concerned; the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission, and the Petroleum Education Trust Fund; to assist the school,” he said.

He stated that parents had done much for the college over the years. He said the PTA had provided some facilities like new buildings to the school, adding that there was a limit to what the association could do as parents, especially as the college belonged to the Federal Government.

He noted that the Federal Government had been doing some work to revamp education in the country, adding that the effort should be extended to the college.

He said, “The school is not conducive for girls. There is security problem because of the open forest behind the school. In these days of Ebola Virus, there is an urgent need for the Federal Government to give the institution the needed attention.

He claimed that the PTA had confronted the school principal, Mrs. Ema Obot, on the deplorable state of the school.

Eyo said, Obot, who is also a PTA member, showed them many letters she had written to draw government and corporate organisations’ attention to the school’s dilapidated structures.

Another member of the PTA, Mrs. Tina Okon, said they had cried for help over the deplorable state of the school.

She stated that she did not know why the Federal Government was unwilling to come to the aid of the institution.

When contacted, the principal, Obot, declined comment, saying she was not in any position to talk on the college as a civil servant.

PUNCH