The Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State has commended the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing officials in the state and the university community during rehabilitation of a 700 metres road within the institution.
Mr Biliaminu Hassan, the Director, Physical Planning, Works and Maintenance of the institution said the synergy between the two organisations had yielded positive results.
The Director of Press and Publicity, FMWH, Mrs Boade Akinola, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, in Abuja.
According to her, Hassan made the remark at the handing over ceremony of the 700 metres road rehabilitated by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to the institution.
“The synergy between the Jigawa State Field officers of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the University’s management facilitated the project to the commissioning point, and that such working relationship would be sustained.’’
He expressed sincere appreciation to the minister for the timely intervention which had greatly eased movement in the university.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Fatima Muktar said, “This road is not actually the first road intervention by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
“It is the second, the first road to be constructed on the new campus was a two-kilometre road and drainage from the main gate to the junction of the faculty of agriculture.
“So, when you put it together with this the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing had intervened with three kilometres road project in the university.”
Muktar explained that before the rehabilitation of the road students and parents had to park their vehicles distance away and walk down to the school in the pool of water.
She pointed out that the relief brought to the school by the ministry of works and housing could not be under estimated.
Speaking further, she said, “this is not to say that the problems have been overcome totally because there are still many areas that will become inaccessible during the rainy season.
“Obviously the university has expanded rapidly and there are many buildings that are ongoing with many more to commence, the need for more roads and drainage cannot be over emphasised,” Muktar said.
In his remarks, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, was represented by the Federal Controller of Works Jigawa, Mr Oladele Atewolara said, “currently, there are 43 road interventions within tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
“To date 29 number of the road intervention projects have been completed with 17 already handed over in 2020.
“Today, we hand over this one in Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa as a critical intervention to support education.”
“With the current intervention in the tertiary institutions, quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment.
“It will renew students’ enthusiasm to attend classes, because some deplorable roads have become motorable, “ he said.
Fashola, speaking on the the economic importance of the project, revealed that no less than 200 people were employed during the execution of the project which contributed hugely to the job creation initiatives of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration.