Asphalted roads of Nasarawa varsity
hirteen years establishment, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) has a face lift with a network of new roads running through the institution.
A government sponsored road construction project at the university had been abandoned, reducing the dysfunctional infrastructure there into mud sites, mid 2014.
But the contract was revoked and handed to Triacta Nigeria Limited. The firm has done asphalt coating criss-crossing the school, running from the gate along Keffi-Akwanga Road to the Administrative Block and round the faculties and the staff quarters.
Roads and line drains running through the state owned university were in state of disrepair. When rain fell conditions used to be terrible there. Only a few roads in NSUK were paved. Most infrastructure were constructed during the days of the School of Preliminary Studies (SPS), which facilities the state university inherited upon establishment in 2002.
The few infrastructure hardly attracted maintenance, a development which saw the institution’s roads and drains in bad condition.
The main road leading into the university, off Keffi-Akwanga Road was ridden with craters, right from the point of departure from the federal highway at the gate. A drive into the university, then would bring the visitor face to face with what should not be a major road into the ivory tower. Craters, some of them deep and wide enough to sink vehicle tyres were many.
The condition of these roads was further worsened by rainy season, which made them even more difficult for road users. The mud at various points during rains would get vehicles stuck.
Following outcry by students, staff and visitors, the state government initiated a construction project with a contract awarded to Peakmash Nigeria Limited, to pave the roads in September of 2012. Close to two years after, the project could not get beyond the earth work level.
This compelled the government to revoke the contract and hand it to Triacta, according to state Commissioner of Works and Transport, Engr. Wada Mohammed Yahaya, who told Daily Trust that he was impressed with the job by the new contractors.
He said the job involves provision of stone-base and laterite-base with asphalt coats, as well as concrete line drains and expanded culverts to accommodate any volume of storm waters during the rainy season.
Yahaya said redesigning of there was a the project, which raised the height of a culvert between the university gate and the main roundabout to accommodate the volume of water in the valley there.
He said the contract was about 90 percent completed, as only road islands (road dividers) were remaining for construction, in what will deliver a dual carriage way from the school gate to the roundabout.
A student of the university, Miss Agnes Okwori who drove on the road to school expressed happiness. “We’re happy with the new roads provided in the university. The project has not only eased difficulty as students and staff had to wade through mud to reach their destinations, it has also created aesthetics here,” Miss Okwori said.
The university spokesman, Jamil Zakari hailed the state government for bailing the university out.