Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has inaugurated a 2-km road, rehabilitated by the Federal Government (FG), at the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUS).
Fashola, who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Sokoto State, Victor Akintade, said that the project is part of interventions for on campus roads in federal tertiary institutions.
He said a lot of work was needed to be done in many sectors, including education, to improve learning condition and wellbeing of citizens, along with overall economy.
According to him, the gap in infrastructure is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways.
Fashola said it is debatable that the quality of education would be impacted by quality of infrastructure and a conducive learning environment.
“Those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedback from students in the schools where these type of interventions have taken place,” he said.
The Minister further said that his Ministry has successfully intervened in the internal road networks of 46 Federal tertiary institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021.
He disclosed that the Ministry currently has another 17 of such roads ready to be handed over, while also attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country, making a total of 76.
“The students are expressing renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending classes, because some defective roads had been restored to good condition.
“This is consistent with the desire to improve human conditions in schools,” saying that the process continues here as we hand over road to UDUS, a critical intervention to support education,” Fashola said.
He noted that during construction, many people were employed in the process, thereby contributing to job creation initiatives of the FG and urged the school’s management to ensure proper use and maintenance of the facilities.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Lawal Bilbis, said the project would surely uplift the living conditions of people in the university community.
Bilbis, represented by Prof. Garba Mahuta, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, said the university enjoyed FG road construction intervention in 2010 when flood eroded a bridge and road linking the main campus with Sokoto city.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the intervention through the Ministry and urged them to do more in the institution to bolster learning and teaching.
Also speaking, the Director of Procurement in the University, Suleiman Lawal, commended government on the initiative, but urged the government to do more for learning to continue to take place in a conducive environment.
Some of the students, commercial bus and tricycle owners operating within the university expressed joy over the rehabilitation project.
They explained that they were hitherto leaving the school with their clothes covered with dust while plying the road.
They commended the Vice-Chancellor for addressing their plights and thanked the FG for the intervention.
The Contractor, Kabiru Umar of Resolution Investment Limited, assured that the project was executed on standard specification within six months at the cost of N120 million. NAN
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