Ahoada West Chairman Allegedly Blocks Plan by Burna Boy, VDM to Rebuild Community School

Tension has reportedly erupted in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State following claims that the council chairman prevented efforts by social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) and music star Burna Boy to rebuild a dilapidated public school in the community.

The controversy comes days after videos circulating online showed the poor condition of a government secondary school in the area, with damaged structures and unsafe learning facilities drawing public outrage. Community members described the school as being in a “sorry state,” raising concerns about the safety of students.

Following the viral footage, Burna Boy; who has roots in Ahoada, reportedly pledged to fully fund the rehabilitation of the school after being contacted about the situation.

VDM later travelled to Rivers State to assess the facility and begin preparations for the renovation project, stating that the singer had instructed him to coordinate the rebuilding process.

However, fresh drama emerged after reports and videos suggested that the Ahoada West council leadership opposed the move, allegedly stopping the demolition and reconstruction plans at the site.

The development has sparked heated reactions on social media, with many Nigerians questioning why authorities would oppose a privately funded intervention aimed at improving public education infrastructure.

Supporters of the initiative argue that the renovation would help address the deteriorating learning conditions faced by students in the community, while critics insist that any reconstruction of government property should follow official procedures.

The incident comes amid wider outrage over the state of public schools in parts of Rivers State and renewed calls for government accountability in the management of educational facilities.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ahoada West Local Government Council had not issued an official statement clarifying its position on the reported halt of the renovation effort.