FG hands over 1.05km road to UniAbuja estimated at N186m
The Federal Government has handed over a 1.05 km road rehabilitated with N186 million by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, to the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) on Thursday.
The road, rehabilitated by Messrs UKJ Consultants Nigeria Ltd., links the various sections of units of the school such as the Administrative Complex, Works and Services Department and Students hostels.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola did the handing over at a Commissioning and Handover of Rehabilitation of Internal Roads ceremony in the university.
Fashola said with the intervention as an investment in education, the government had successfully taken part in the provision of road networks of 46 tertiary federal institutions and handed over 29 at the end of 2021.
“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 to lead the process of getting the work done.
“We have another 17 roads ready to be handed over, while we are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 76 roads.
“It is indubitable that quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedback from students.
“The students are expressing renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending classes because some defective roads have been restored to good condition,’’ Fashola said.
The minister said that the intervention in the University of Abuja main campus was consistent with government’s progressive ideal of improving the human condition critical to support education.
Fashola was represented at the commissioning by the Federal Controller of Works, Abuja, Mr Usman Yakubu.
The Vice-Chancellor, UniAbuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, receiving the 1.05 kilometre road commended the Federal Government for rehabilitating the road for the institution.
According to him, intervening in the university is key, as it is a symbol of Nigeria’s unity, because students from every state of the federation are represented in it.
He said that academic was the heart of infrastructure, adding that a good living environment with good facilities and roads would help researchers come out with innovations and ideas that would help the nation grow.
Na’Allah appealed to the government to construct more roads and upgrade the living facilities and quarters in the university campus.
He promised that the works department of the institution would maintain the road and the liaise with the ministry to ensure that the work was sustained.
The Head of Works, University of Abuja, Mr Musa Joshua, said the road network in the school had been a challenge over the years.
Joshua said the management was excited at the rehabilitation of the road.
“The roads infrastructure in the university over the years has been a challenge because of the level of deterioration that has happened when the ministry intervened.
“And within three weeks of the information we received that the ministry is going to intervene, work commenced and it did not take more than a month that the road was completed.
“We are already using the road; we really thank the ministry and also appreciate the vice-chancellor who has actually been intervening on behalf of the university, to the ministry and other agencies.
“Before now, the road was horrible and students and staff had a difficult time traversing it but now there is improvement that impacts on even the social life here, ’’ Joshua said.
