The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike expressed dissatisfaction with the infrastructure at Abuja University of Technology, Abaji, calling it a ‘glorified secondary school’ during a recent town hall meeting.
Responding to a request for completion in September, on Friday, 26th January 2024, during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Abaji. Wike emphasized that the current structures don’t meet required standards, and he won’t commit to an opening date until necessary facilities are in place.
I am not going to promise you here that it will be September, I won’t do that. Any thing worth doing, is worth doing well. I cannot be a minister of the FCT and come to where we want to open a university as if it is a glorified secondary school, I will not do that.
If I go back, I am going to summon the mandate secretary education to bring me the master plan of this university. You will see how serious we will be to making sure the basic facilities are put in place and then the university can start up well. I don’t want to stand here now in order to make you happy to say September, I won’t do that. That is political talk, am not here to do political talk, I am here to talk and do.
Nyesom Wike – FCT Minister
Wike pledged to review the master plan with the Mandate Secretary of Education Secretariat to ensure proper development before setting a timeline for opening.
Construction work at the university, owned by the Federal Capital Territory, started in 2011 and is yet to commence academic activities.
Story: Christy Dung