FG Committed To Closing Infrastructure Gap In Education Sector – Fashola

By our reporter

Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola has reiterated the commitment of the federal government to bridging the infrastructure gap in Nigeria’s education sector has been reiterated.

The Minister made the affirmation in his separate remarks during the handover of
a 2-kilometre internal road to Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana Afikpo in Ebonyi State and a 1.

This was contained in two separate statements made available to newsmen from the ministry.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony of the rehabilitated road to the school management in Afikpor, Fashola, who was represented by the Federal Controller in Works Ebonyi State, Engr Steve Oluwadum, said the intervention work aimed primarily to improve the quality of education was gradually bridging the gap of infrastructure needs in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Felix Attah, who was represented by the Deputy Rector Academics, Dr. Ezichi Kalu, while appreciating the government for the goodwill gesture, described the road intervention as laudable and commendable, saying the project would
ameliorate the suffering of the staff and students and enhance teaching and learning.

He requested for more of the intervention on other campus roads that are in critical conditions.

Speaking at Pankshin, Fashola said the importance of infrastructure to learning environment and quality of education could not be overemphasized, hence the federal government’s commitment to bridging the infrastructure gaps in institutions of higher learning in the country.

Represented at the occasion by the Federal Controller of Works in Plateau State, Engr Usman Abubakar, Fashola said ” It is undebatable that the quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment.”

He explained that government was steadily bridging the infrastructure gap by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways, which had now reached the schools.

According to him, the federal government had undertaken 83 internal road projects in various federal tertiary institutions across the country, with the completed ones, among which are Akanu Ibiam, Umwana and FCE Pankshin, being handed over at the moment.

The road projects, according to Fashola, benefit not only the students and the institution’s community but also provide jobs for citizens, especially youths hitherto unemployed.

Speaking, the Provost of the college, Dr A.B, Cirfat, represented by Deputy Provost, Dr (Mrs) Christiana Zumyil, commended the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, FMWH, for yet another intervention in the College.

Dr Cirfat recalled that it was the same ministry that built the College’s Staff quarters in 1974 when the College was established.

Noting that the rehabilitated road had given the College a new good look, Dr Cirfat however urged the federal government to further extend its helping hand to the institution by building shoulders of the main road by the main gate in order to stop further damage of the road during the raining season.

The 1.04 km road links the academic area in the college with the administrative block , Convocation square, staff quarters and students hostel.