By SUNTV Global Channel
February 7, 2026 | News
A newly completed Smart Green School constructed by the Enugu State Government in Ishielu Amagunze, Nkanu East Local Government Area, has suffered severe structural damage after a windstorm violently ripped off the roof of the one-storey building, raising serious questions about construction quality and the use of public funds.
A video obtained by SUNTV Global Channel shows the school’s roof completely torn away, with wooden trusses and roofing sheets scattered behind the premises. The facility was reportedly completed recently and had already been put to use before the incident.
In the footage, residents expressed relief that the incident occurred when pupils were not in school, while warning that the situation could have resulted in a major tragedy.
“Let us thank God the children were not in school. One can only imagine the disaster that would have happened,” a resident said.
Community members and commentators openly questioned the integrity of the project, alleging poor engineering standards and shoddy contract execution.
“This Ishielu Amagunze Smart School was recently completed and declared functional, yet a simple windstorm removed the entire roof,” a voice in the video remarked.
“If you visit places like Awkpufu and see what they call Smart Schools, you will begin to ask serious questions about how contractors were selected.”
The incident has reignited public debate over allegations of substandard construction, inflated contracts, and possible kickbacks linked to the Smart Green School initiative.
Governor Peter Mbah’s administration has consistently promoted education as a flagship priority, committing vast public resources to the Smart School programme across the state.
According to Enugu State’s 2026 budget proposal, allocations under the initiative include:
- ₦158 billion for the construction of 16 Smart Senior Secondary Schools
- ₦68 billion for 10 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools, including workshops, laboratories, hostels, and equipment
- ₦30 billion for equipping and furnishing technical colleges
- ₦15 billion to upgrade 106 public secondary schools into model schools
- ₦10 billion for equipping Smart Schools across 260 political wards
- ₦30 billion for a statewide school feeding programme
In total, over ₦300 billion has been budgeted or proposed for education infrastructure, equipment, and feeding programmes in the 2026 fiscal year.
The destruction of a newly completed facility by a routine windstorm has intensified calls for accountability, with residents insisting that projects funded with such massive public investment must meet basic engineering and safety standards.
Experts note that while windstorms are common in the region, properly designed and constructed school buildings should not suffer catastrophic failure shortly after completion.
As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Government and relevant education authorities had not issued any official statement explaining the cause of the structural failure or announcing an investigation.
Civil society organisations and concerned citizens are now demanding an independent technical audit of Smart School projects across the state to assess construction quality, contractor compliance, and value for money.
For many residents of Ishielu Amagunze, the incident has shifted the focus from policy ambition to on-the-ground realities.
“Education is important, but our children must be safe,” a community member said. “If this can happen to a new school, then something is clearly wrong.”
