FEDERAL Government has commissioned and handed over a 700 meters asphalt overlay internal road constructed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing at the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Yobe State.
The 700 metres road with drainage and culverts was handed over to the authorities of the institution at a brief handing and taking over ceremony which took place recently within the vicinity of the Polytechnic in Damaturu.
In his address, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN represented by the Federal Controller of works, Yobe State, Engineer Olusegun Babalakin Akinmade, stated that the infrastructure need of the country was steadily being provided through such interventions in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
Fashola said “Though a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction of roads is going on in major highways and tertiary institutions, the infrastructure need of the country is steadily being provided.”
The Minister also revealed that there are currently 43 road interventions within tertiary institutions across Nigeria out of which 29 have been completed with 17 of the roads handed over to the respective institutions across the country in 2020.
Fashola commended the administration of President Buhari for attending to the needs of the various sectors of the nation including education.
“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 that work done.” he said.
Similarly, the Minister described the road project as an investment in education, adding that the quality of education would be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment .
He also expressed confidence that the restoration of the defective road to good condition would engender a renewed enthusiasm in the students with regards to attending classes.
The Yobe State Commissioner of Works, Umaru Wakili who represented the Deputy Governor of the State, Honourable Idi Barde Gubana noted that, the provision of roads, culvert and drainage was vital to the development of any higher institution especially those that were fast expanding in terms of structure and academic programmes.
Gubana, also expressed the appreciation of the Yobe State Government to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for its intervention in the provision of road infrastructure in the Polytechnic, describing it as a giant stride.
Earlier, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Dr. Usman Kallami, represented by the Deputy Rector Administration, Muhammed Abubakar expressed gratitude to Minister Fashola for the road rehabilitation in the school and another (about 1000 metres) carried out by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA), an agency of the Ministry in the Polytechnic.
The Rector described the rehabilitation work as a new dawn and a dream come true, and also urged the Ministry to do more for the Polytechnic as it was in need of solar street lighting, more road network and drainages.
A cross section of the students interviewed at the occasion expressed gratitude to the federal government for easing the hardship caused by the roads when they were in a state of disrepair.
In attendance at the occasion were: Yobe State Commissioner of Higher Education Professor Muhammed Munkaila and Hon.Mai Sanda Lawan, who represented His Royal Highness, the Emir of Damaturu, Alhaji Shehu Hashim II ibn Umar El Kanemi and other dignitaries.
