Nov. 10, 2025
The House of Representatives Committee on University Education, has decried the deplorable condition of the access road connecting Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) to other towns in Imo.
The committee also expressed worry over the access road to the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Owerri (AIFUEO)
This is contained in a statement by the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), after an oversight visit to some universities in the South East Zone.
Fulata appealed to the relevant authorities including Federal Ministries of Works and Education, as well as the state government to give attention to the roads.
According to 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 rainy session.
“There is a challenge of access roads and there is 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 security threat and could lead to invasion of plots belonging to the institution.
The chairman said that the committee’s interaction with the management of the institution showed that there was need to outsource the security service to lift the heavy burden off the school.
He said that management of the school said it could no longer bear the cost of security operatives from its meager resources and appealed to the Federal Government for intervention.
According to him, this will also enhance the remuneration they receive to enable them be more efficient in their operations.
He added that there was a passionate appeal by Prof. Ogbonna Onuuoha, Executive Director, National Institute for Nigerian Languages to allow the institution run degree programme in line with its establishment Act.
According to him, the professor also said that since the establishment of the institute 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 concerning challenges raised by the institutions. (NAN)
