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| President Muhammadu Buhari with the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and other guests at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Transport University in Daura, Katsina State |
The Minister for Transportation,
Rotimi Amaechi, said on Monday he had no regrets siting the Transportation
University in Daura, Katsina
Rotimi Amaechi, said on Monday he had no regrets siting the Transportation
University in Daura, Katsina
Amaechi stated this at the
groundbreaking of the university on Monday.
He said: “When we sited the factory
at Kajola, there was no noise, nobody debated about it, and nobody abused us
for it unlike the site for the university.
at Kajola, there was no noise, nobody debated about it, and nobody abused us
for it unlike the site for the university.
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| The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of the nation’s Transport University in Daura, Katsina State |
“Daura is in Nigeria, it is not in any other
part of the world. It is not in the Niger Republic, Biafra or Mali, it is in
Nigeria. So, what is wrong in siting the University of Transportation in Daura?
part of the world. It is not in the Niger Republic, Biafra or Mali, it is in
Nigeria. So, what is wrong in siting the University of Transportation in Daura?
“I have no regret siting this university where
I have sited it. It is not because I want to get any gain.”
I have sited it. It is not because I want to get any gain.”
According to him, the establishment
of the university was an attempt at responding to the question of how we
(Nigeria) will maintain the infrastructure we are building in the country.
of the university was an attempt at responding to the question of how we
(Nigeria) will maintain the infrastructure we are building in the country.
The minister added: “It is my attempt
at responding to the question of how to maintain and manage all the
infrastructure we are building and realised that education is key.
at responding to the question of how to maintain and manage all the
infrastructure we are building and realised that education is key.
“I engaged the companies, the first
engagement was when they were constructing Lagos-Ibadan.
engagement was when they were constructing Lagos-Ibadan.
“They were not so keen at spending
their funds to build a university for Nigeria until I refused to sign the
contract for the Lagos – Ibadan railway.
their funds to build a university for Nigeria until I refused to sign the
contract for the Lagos – Ibadan railway.
“I insisted that I will only sign if
three things were done.
three things were done.
“The first thing is to take our
children to China and train them by giving them a first degree in railway
technology.
children to China and train them by giving them a first degree in railway
technology.
“Today as I speak, 60 of our children
are in their second year and we thank CCECC and 90 are on their way to China
this week, making it 150.
are in their second year and we thank CCECC and 90 are on their way to China
this week, making it 150.
“The second is that, if we must sign
the purchase of locomotives in China, they must build a factory where we can
construct for coaches, locomotives and wagon and today at Kajola that factory
is being constructed.
the purchase of locomotives in China, they must build a factory where we can
construct for coaches, locomotives and wagon and today at Kajola that factory
is being constructed.
”Finally, I insisted on the
University of Transportation and today we are here for the groundbreaking of
the university and for all we are grateful to CCECC and the Chinese
government.”
University of Transportation and today we are here for the groundbreaking of
the university and for all we are grateful to CCECC and the Chinese
government.”
The minister commended the Governor
of Katsina, Aminu Masari, for the speed in which he donated the land for the
project. He said the land which is about 413 hectares was donated by the
Katsina State government and has promised to increase it. (NAN)
of Katsina, Aminu Masari, for the speed in which he donated the land for the
project. He said the land which is about 413 hectares was donated by the
Katsina State government and has promised to increase it. (NAN)
