Follow Us on Google
Minister for Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said he had no regrets siting the transportation University in Daura.
Amaechi said this at the ground breaking of the Transportation University in Daura, Katsina, yesterday.
“When we sited the factory at Kajola, there was no noise, nobody debated about it, nobody abused us for it unlike the site for the university. Daura is in Nigeria, it is not in any other part of the world. It is not in 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.”
The university would offer courses and award degrees in Railway Engineering.
He said 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.
“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. I engaged the companies, the first 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 to Ibadan railway. I insisted that I will only sign if three things were done. The first thing is to take our children to China and train them by giving them 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.
“The second is that, if we must sign the purchase of locomotives in China, they must build a factory were 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 ground breaking of the University and for all we are grateful to CCECC and the Chinese government.”
Minister commended the Governor of Katsina for the speed in which he donated the land, spanning about 413 hectares for the project.
Chairman, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Ibrahim Hassan, described the university as the first of its kind which would boost economy and educational quest of Nigerians. He said that Engineering courses as regards to transportation would be introduced, adding that courses like Marine, road, rail and inland water transportation would be the main focus.
