Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amechi, has revealed that the $50 million Transport University that is set to be built in Daura, Katsina state was penciled to be executed for free by the Chinese authority. Amechi stated this at Daura, Katsina state during his maiden visit paid to the ongoing project, not only that, he stated the Technique Engineering Architectural Marketing (TEAM), the project consultants has also pledged to provide their services free of charge.
Amechi explained that the reason behind the University was to groom personalities that can handle the operation and maintenance of the Nigerian railway system currently being executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) when the Chinese would finally withdraw.
He said that though not the original plan, but he has directed the company to include a primary and secondary school in the plan to take care of the families that would be employed to work there.
In his statement,” Construction work will commence in September. What they are doing now is clearing. They have promised to build a primary school and a secondary school in the university. This university is a donation by the Chinese government through the China Engineering Construction Corporation, CECC. The Technique, Engineering, and Marketing (TEAM) have also accepted to do the consultancy job”,
The Minister after inspecting the project paid a courtesy call to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouq. He informed the Emir that the university was not part of the railway contract but was a donation by the Chinese authority to our federal government.
He further explained that he thanked the CCECC for their kind gesture though wasn’t part of the railway contract, saying all Nigerians from all parts of the country are entitled to come here for studies, in the same as lecturing. Those who will teach are not only going to come from Daura, they will come from all parts of the country. Amechi promised that the school would be completed by next year.
He subsequently paid the courtesy call to the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, where the Governor promised to corporate in whatever way possible.
It would be recalled that the groundbreaking ceremony for the project was performed by President Muhammadu on December 2, 2019.
Personalities who graced the tour were: the board chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Ibrahim Alhassan, and other senior government officials.
