The fast moving train in the Season of Completion and Impact involving the commissioning of projects under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing moved to Jigawa State, North Western Nigeria, Thursday, February 24th, 2022.
Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure in Jigawa State was the beneficiary this time around. And the project commissioned and handed over consisted of four link roads totaling one kilometer length rehabilitated with asphalt overlay in the institution by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
The four link roads were: Road A linking four classrooms and three lecture halls; Road B linking the three halls with the 500-seater lecture theater; Road C linking the 500-seater theater with students’ hostel; while Road D connect the students hostel and the accommodation tower.
In his address, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Jigawa State, Engr. Atewolara Oladele Gabriel said that the Ministry was working on 76 road projects in selected Federal Tertiary Institutions across the nation.
“We have successfully intervened in the internal road networks of 46 Tertiary Institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021 and we now have another 17 ready to be handed over while we are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 76”, he said.
The Minister explained that the quality of infrastructure in the tertiary institutions would improve the learning environment, and impact positively on the quality of education, pointing out that the feedbacks from the students of the schools where this type of intervention had taken place testified to it.
“The summary of all the feedbacks from students and Management staff of the institutions has demonstrated that the gap of the nation’s infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs and construction on the major highways and schools,” he said.
Accordingly, the Minister stated that the construction of the internal roads in the tertiary institutions by Federal Government was a pointer to the progressive ideals of the Buhari administration in improving the human condition by supporting education.
In his response, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Sabo Wada Dutse, expressed happiness and excitement at the intervention, which he described as significant to the development of the Polytechnic.
The Rector stated that, with the road intervention, the Polytechnic community was now living at peace with no fears of reptiles which the area was prone to before the intervention.
He, however, solicited further intervention by the Federal government in areas like street and security lights and construction of sports complex in the Polytechnic whenever the opportunity arises.
Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Federal Polytechnic Kazaure Chapter, Dr. Abdul’azeez Ibrahim Badaru, expressed appreciation to the Minister for including the Polytechnic in the Tertiary Schools Road Intervention Scheme.
He said ” , this will ease the stress of both staff and students. The access roads will enhance the environment and improve teaching and learning”.He also thanked the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Babangida Hussain, for what he has done for the Fedpoly Kazaure.
“I want to appeal to the Honourable Minister to please include Federal Polytechnic Kazaure in the Housing scheme of the Ministry as the houses in the school are very few and very old, built by the Jigawa State Government before the conversion of the Polytechnic to a federal institution”, Dr Badaru added.
Accordingly, he said the gesture would alleviate the suffering of the staff, who mostly come from Kano and other distant places, adding that it would also boost morale and performance, suggesting that the Ministry should construct at least 100 units of houses.
The President of the Students Union Government, Fedpoly Kazaure, comrade Adamu Sani Yarima, expressed profound gratitude to the Federal government and the Ministry of Works and Housing under the watch of Mr. Babatunde Fashola for supporting the Institution with the roads.
Comrade Yarima, also requested for more interventions especially in recreational facilities such as sports complex in the polytechnic.