FG bridges infrastructure deficit in higher institutions

The quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment

Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola, Thursday, said efforts are being made to overcome the problem of lack of infrastructure in higher institutions.

Represented by the Borno State Federal Controller of Works, Engineer Amos Tongman, during the handover ceremony of 2.5km internal roads at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), the minister said the gap of infrastructure was steadily being bridged by gradual processes of repairs, renewal, reconstruction and construction on major highways and schools.

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He said: “The quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment.”

He said there were 43 road interventions within higher institutions across the country out of which 29 were completed and 17 handed over to the institutions in 2020.

He further said 80 people were directly and indirectly employed during the construction exercise and by UMTH which contributed to the job creation initiative of the government.

The Chief Medical Director, UMTH, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, said the manner the project was handled showed “resilience, experience, knowledge and critical thinking,” adding that the work “will bring a lot of insights into solving our road network problems.”

He also noted that the completed roads were named after prominent personalities in such a way that Ring Road was named Babatunde Raji Fashola Road, Kidney Centre to Engineering Junction named Muhammed Bukar Road, Engineering Junction to Polio Lab named Professor Jibrin Aminu Road while School of Nursing Road was named Babangida Hussaini (Walin Kazaure) Road.

The President, Students Union Government, UMTH, Hakuri Tawus, said most of the difficulties faced by students during the rainy season, including increase in transport fare by tricycle taxis, were resolved by the project.

He said, “The condition of the road before now deteriorated during the rainy season and driving or walking on the slippery surface could mean certain road safety risks.”