Mr Babantude Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, says gap in Nigerian infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways.
Fashola, who was represented by Mr Atewolara Gabriel, Federal Controller of Works in Jigawa, made the remarks during the official handing over of Federal Government intervention of internal roads to Federal University Dutse (FUD) Jigawa, on Tuesday.
“Today, we converge at FUD to handover an important asset, an 800 metres road rehabilitated/constructed by the federal ministry of works and housing on behalf of the Federal Government.
“While it is true that a lot of work needs to be done in many sectors of our national life, including education, the Buhari government has stepped up the lead in the process of getting that work done.
“The gap in our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the schools.
“And it is undebatable that the quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and learning environment, and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedback from the schools where these types of intervention has taken place,” Fashola said.
He explained that there were currently 43 road interventions within tertiary institutions across the country.
The minister further stated that 29 of such road intervention projects had been completed, with 17 already handed over in 2020.
“And today we handed over this FUD as a critical intervention to support education. And the point must be made that although this is a civil works project, it is an investment in education,” he said.
According to him, during the construction, no fewer than 200 people were employed, contributing to the job creation initiative of the government.
“And it is hoped that the school will now ensure that this asset is used properly and not aborted,” Fashola advised.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Fatima Batul-Muktar, said this was not the first intervention work done by the ministry in the university.
“First to be constructed is a one kilometre road and drain through Special Duties Intervention.
“This road really made us happy because the particular road was in a deplorable condition, many vehicles broke down on it and many parents had to park their vehicles when they brought their children to school.
“So the road will check flooding and erosion, as well make it easy for movement of human and vehicles,” the VC said.
Batul-Muktar, who commended the Federal Government for the gesture, requested for more roads, drains and central sewage in the university.
In the same vein, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari also commissioned and handed over two hostels constructed under the NNPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
The two hostels for male and female students, with 44-bed-capacity each, were constructed and donated to the university’s College of Medical Sciences.
Kyari said the hostels were constructed under the NNPC’s agenda of Transparency and Accountability Par Excellence (TAPE).
In her remarks, the VC said the hostels would go a long way in addressing accommodation challenges in the university, particularly among medical students.
The hostels were constructed at the university’s College of Medical Science.
