Anambra Orders Structural Tests on School Hostels to Safeguard Students
By MaryAnn Chukwuma
The Anambra State Government has moved to strengthen safety standards in boarding schools, ordering structural integrity tests on school hostels across the state to identify potential building defects, ensuring that students are accommodated in safe and sound facilities.
The decision was taken at the 14th Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) meeting held at the Light House, Awka, on Sept. 28, according to a press release signed by the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor.
The testing will involve the state’s Materials Testing Laboratory, which is to be upgraded to provide the technical capacity required to assess the condition and structural integrity of hostel facilities. The law establishing the laboratory will also be strengthened to support reliable and consistent testing.
The assessment is intended to provide government with technical information on the condition of school hostels, helping to identify facilities requiring attention and guide decisions on necessary repairs, rehabilitation or other safety measures. This places the physical safety of students at the centre of decisions concerning boarding facilities.
ANSEC clarified that Uga Boys Smart Boarding Secondary School remains open for admission. Demand for day-student places has exceeded available capacity, while boarding spaces remain available.
On other decisions, the council said work towards the take-off of the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City (AMIC) is progressing through engagement with investors and efforts to provide the necessary enabling environment. It announced activities for the 66th Independence Anniversary at Ekwueme Square, Awka, on October 1.
The council approved measures to streamline state law enforcement groups, with the aim of reducing overlapping functions, preventing avoidable conflicts and strengthening accountability. It also directed action to repossess illegally occupied government lands and announced the second edition of Onwa Dezemba for December 2026.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a broader focus on strengthening public institutions, improving safety and accountability, protecting public assets and creating conditions for sustainable development across the state.
