The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has decried the deplorable condition of the access road connecting the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, to other towns in Imo.

The committee also expressed worry over the access road to the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri.

This was disclosed in a statement by Abubakar Fulata, the chairman of the committee (APC, Jigawa), following an oversight visit to some universities in the South-East zone.

Mr Fulata appealed to the relevant authorities, including the federal ministries of works and education, as well as the state government, to give attention to the roads.

According to Mr Fulata, the condition of Obinze-FUTO Road in Owerri is so bad that cars, buses, tricycles, and even pedestrians find it difficult to pass through during the rainy season.

“There is a challenge of access roads, and there is a need for intervention in the tarring of internal roads in the campus as well, particularly the Nworie campus where the university is domiciling its new structures.”

He noted that the absence of perimeter fencing posed a security threat and could lead to the unauthorised entry into plots belonging to the institution.

The chairman said that the committee’s interaction with the institution’s management showed that there was a need to outsource the security service to lift the heavy burden off the school.

He stated that the school’s management said it could no longer afford the cost of security personnel from its meager resources and appealed to the federal government for intervention.

According to him, this will also enhance the remuneration they receive, enabling them to be more efficient in their operations.

Mr Fulata further stated that the institution’s management also raised concerns about being unable to admit students into the newly accredited courses unless the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board extends the admission deadline from November 17.

He added that there was a passionate appeal by Ogbonna Onuoha, executive director of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages, to allow the institution to run a degree programme in line with its establishment act.

According to him, the professor also stated that since the institute’s establishment over 30 years ago, there has been no release of the school’s take-off grant.

The chairman gave assurance that the committee would ensure legislative interventions to address the challenges raised by the institutions. 

(NAN)