The federal government has approved the establishment of six new federal universities, which will be spread across the six geo political zones of the country in states where there are no federal universities.
Council also approved the sum of N41 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of eight different road projects across the six geo-politcal zones of the country.
The minister of information and communications, Dora Akunyili, who briefed journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, which lasted from 10am to about 4:30pm yesterday, with 22 memos discussed, said the council also approved $231.11 million for the procurement of direct data capturing machines for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for voters registration.
She briefed alongside Godday Orubebe, minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Sanusi Daggash, minister of works; Andrew Obadiah, minister of water resources; Labaran Maku, minister of state, information, and communications; Kenneth Gbagi, minister of state education; and Nuhu Wya, minister of state power.
The approval of the six universities, Mrs. Akunyili said, is part of a move designed by the federal government to bridge the admission gap for Nigerian students.
“We talk about quality, considering the fact that as at today, only about 10 percent of qualified candidates have access to universities, and we want as many Nigerians as possible to have access. Council approved this because government of President Goodluck Jonathan does not only want to improve quality, but also to improve access, which is as important as quality,” she said.
Widening roads
When asked why the government is making such a decision at a time when existing universities are poorly funded, the minister said, “Establishing new universities will not be lowering on standard in any way, we just want to ensure that those places where they are a lot of Nigerians, council approved today to establish one federal university in the six geo political zones of the country in the states which do not have federal university. In future, we are even going to have more.
“The Minister of Education actually presented 44 universities; we deliberated that it will be approved in phases, starting with the six universities,” she explained.
Mr. Daggash put the total amount of money approved for the eight different road projects across the six geo-political zones at a cost of N41 billion.
The road approved for construction and rehabilitation are the Apapa-Oshodi expressway; Oshogbo-Ilesa road; Ijebu Ode-Ibadan road; Abeokuta-Ibadan expressway; Ibadan-Lagere-Iremo-Enuwa-Ilesa By-pass; Ahoada-Omok u-road phase 1; Ozalla-Akpugo-Amagunze-Ihuokpara-Nkomoro-Isu-Onicha road; Umuahia-Ikot Epene road; Suleja-Minna road; and Otukpa-Oweto road.
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