Abuja: The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has cited infrastructure decay and funding gaps at King’s College, Lagos, as reasons for exploring alternative management options for the institution. Alausa explained the Federal Government’s position on the proposed arrangement involving the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA), emphasizing the need for substantial investment to restore the institution’s infrastructure and maintain its standards.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the college, established during the colonial era to train future leaders, has experienced significant deterioration over the years. Dr Alausa noted that during an unannounced visit, he observed poor conditions in some hostels, bathrooms, classrooms, laboratories, and other facilities. Additionally, he encountered prolonged electricity outages, which were addressed after contacting the electricity distribution company serving the area.
Further, the minister pointed out the security concerns raised by the use of school premises as a paid car park, which allowed unrestricted public access. He has since directed the cancellation of this arrangement. Alausa highlighted that KCOBA expressed its willingness to invest substantially in rehabilitating the institution’s infrastructure while maintaining merit-based admissions and ensuring national access to the college.
Dr Alausa revealed that the association claimed to have invested over N2 billion in supporting the school’s infrastructure over the years. The proposed arrangement aims to mobilize additional resources to rehabilitate and modernize King’s College while retaining government ownership. Alausa stressed the major funding gap the Federal Government faces in rehabilitating the country’s Federal Unity Colleges, noting that even N2 trillion would not suffice to meet the infrastructure needs of the 115 Unity Colleges.
He assured that the government would continue to engage in dialogue with unions on the issue, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to restoring the quality and reputation of these educational institutions.