Rainstorm Destroy Unity College Hostels

The chairman of the Parents/Teachers’ Association (PTA), has issued an appeal to parents, urging them to keep their children and wards at home until further notice.

A devastating rainstorm that swept through the Federal Government College (FGC) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, over the weekend has left a trail of destruction in its wake.

The storm, which brought heavy downpours and strong winds, ravaged several critical structures within the school premises, including hostels, laboratories, classrooms, and administrative buildings.

This unfortunate incident occurred just a week after students resumed for their third term, adding to the distress of the students and staff.

The destruction caused by the rainstorm is extensive. The perimeter fence bordering the girls’ hostel was severely damaged, while the Basic Science Laboratory suffered significant structural damage.

Several classroom blocks, particularly those housing JSS1, JSS2, and SS2 students, were also affected, potentially disrupting the academic activities of these students.

Additionally, the administrative buildings and the vice principals’ offices were not spared, which could impact the school’s operational efficiency.

The rainstorm’s destruction extended to other critical facilities within the school. The e-Library suffered significant damage, with a set of computers rendered unusable.

Also, the solar panel water pump and water storage tanks located across the college were also affected. The generator house, which provides power to the school, was severely damaged when a tree collapsed onto its roof, crippling the entire power system.

A distressing video circulating on social media captured the chaos and panic among students, particularly females, as they cried and ran for shelter, highlighting the traumatic impact of the incident on the students.

Miraculously, despite the extent of the destruction, no lives were lost in the incident. However, the damage to school property is likely to cause significant disruptions to the academic calendar and may require substantial resources to repair and restore the affected structures.

According to an administrative officer who wished to remain anonymous, the majority of students affected by the rainstorm have been temporarily relocated to another hostel that sustained minimal damage.

However, the incident has prompted the school management to postpone the resumption of boarding students scheduled for Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, 2025. This decision particularly affects students in JSS1, 2, SS1, and 2 classes, as the school awaits repairs to be carried out by the federal government.

In light of this development, Dr. J.J Etim, chairman of the Parents/Teachers’ Association (PTA), has issued an appeal to parents, urging them to keep their children and wards at home until further notice.

This measure aims to ensure student safety while the school addresses the aftermath of the natural disaster and undertakes necessary repairs.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of school infrastructure to natural disasters and underscores the need for robust maintenance and disaster preparedness measures to mitigate the impact of such events on educational institutions.

IREPORT247NEW recall that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has warned that 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 33 states and the FCT fall within the high flood-risk areas in 2025.

The warning was issued during the official presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, in Abuja.

According to the forecast, an additional 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs across 31 states and the FCT are expected to experience moderate flood risk this year.

States identified in the high-risk category include: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, the FCT, Gombe and Imo.

Others are; Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.