The Nigeria Education News team was live on the campus of the Federal College of Education (FCE) Osiele, Abeokuta, to uncover the situation of infrastructural neglect within the institution. During the visit, the team inspected different facilities and was shocked by the state of some abandoned buildings and decaying properties that have been left to rot for over three years.
Walking through the campus, the team noticed several structures that once held promise for academic and administrative use now standing in ruins. Most striking was a large building left uncompleted and abandoned, its surroundings littered with rusting chairs and furniture that were once in active use. This site, according to some students, has become a symbol of neglect and wasted resources.
One of the abandoned buildings inspected showed visible cracks, broken windows, and weeds growing through its walls. Inside, hundreds of wooden and plastic chairs lay scattered, some broken beyond repair while others are slowly decaying due to weather exposure. The stench of neglect hung heavily in the air, raising serious questions about maintenance and accountability.
The Nigeria Education News team engaged some students who lamented the deplorable state of things. A student in the Department of Arts Education expressed disappointment, saying: “It is heartbreaking to see our school environment in this state. We sit on the floor in some classes, yet here we have chairs wasting away in an abandoned building.”
Another student from the Department of Sciences told our team that the abandoned properties have been there since she was admitted in 2021. She remarked: “They have been like this since I resumed three years ago. We keep hearing promises of renovation, but nothing has been done. Every day it gets worse.”
According to the students, the abandoned buildings and decaying chairs are not just a matter of aesthetics but also of functionality. Many lecture halls across the campus are overcrowded, with insufficient seating and poor ventilation. Yet, the institution has failed to retrieve and rehabilitate the abandoned chairs that could ease the situation.
The Nigeria Education News team also spoke with a group of final-year students who complained that the neglect reflects poorly on the reputation of the college. “How can a Federal College be in this condition?” one of them asked. “We are supposed to be trained as future teachers, but the environment itself does not support learning.”
Beyond the buildings and chairs, some students pointed out that the abandoned site has become a hiding place for rodents and reptiles, creating a safety hazard for those who walk near it. The decayed furniture and broken materials have also become dangerous obstacles scattered across the grounds.
During the inspection, it became clear that the level of decay was not only about lack of use but also lack of maintenance culture. Rainwater had damaged parts of the roof, while termites had eaten deep into some of the wooden chairs. Instead of preserving the property for future use, it has been allowed to rot.
The Nigeria Education News team engaged another student, a 200level student union, who alleged that the management has been aware of the situation but continues to turn a blind eye. According to him: “We have written several times about these abandoned properties. Management keeps promising action, but nothing ever happens. It is simply wasteful.”
When asked how they cope in their daily learning activities, some students noted that many classrooms do not have enough seats. In some cases, they are forced to carry chairs from one lecture hall to another, or even stand during classes. They believe that the abandoned chairs lying waste could have solved these challenges if properly managed.
The team also observed that the abandoned buildings have become a site for vandalism. Broken doors, scattered iron rods, and graffiti filled the walls, giving the place an eerie, deserted feel. This raises the concern that, if left unattended, the property could eventually become a complete ruin beyond recovery.
Students appealed for urgent intervention from both the school management and the government. A female student passionately told The Nigeria Education News: “We are suffering because of poor infrastructure. Let the government come and see how we are learning. This school deserves better.”
The Nigeria Education News concludes that the Federal College of Education Osiele is in dire need of infrastructural rehabilitation and proper management of resources. Abandoned buildings and decaying chairs should not be left to waste while students struggle daily with inadequate facilities. Immediate intervention is necessary to restore dignity to the institution and provide students with an enabling learning environment.
Our team will continue to monitor developments on this issue and provide updates as stakeholders respond. The voices of the students are clear: change is long overdue at FCE Osiele, Abeokuta.
