Ecological Fund to rehabilitate ABU dam

A statement issued by the Ecological Funds Office (EFO) noted that the news of the dam rehabilitation was made public during a courtesy call by the Permanent Secretary, EFO, Engr.  Goni M. Sheikh, when he visited the Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, in Zaria.
The visit, according to the statement, was ahead of the official handing over of the multi-billion naira project to the successful contractor and consultant.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, noted that: “This project is a dream come true. Our joy knows no bound for this wonderful intervention. We thank the federal government and Presidency for the project and we are excited that the contract was awarded and that the contractor is on ground; and now the Permanent Secretary (EFO) is on hand to witness the hand over process.”
Prof. Mustapha said he would consider the project the highest point of his achievements when completed and that he hopes that the contractor will speed up work to complete it in record time. He informed the visitors that the university had been soliciting from many past governments for intervention without any success, adding that it was almost unbelievable to witness this great event.
 He said granting the request on time was a pleasant surprise, for which the university will be eternally grateful.
The vice-chancellor said that the entire university community would be delighted to receive Mr. President being a visitor of the university if he could make time to attend the graduation ceremony of the university coming up this month.
According to him, the university would like to see the president inspect the level of project work as well as give the authorities and entire university community the opportunity to show their appreciation to him.
Earlier, the Director of Physical Planning and Municipal Service of the university, Engr. M. A. Sambo, explained that the current water facility was originally planned for 6000 people but with the population now at over 60,000 the facility had not only become overstretched but inadequate.
He also explained that the university has experienced pollution of its main source of water through the Genge Uku stream which has led to the death of many fishes; hence, the need to dredge and divert the river.
Permanent Secretary, EFO, Engr.  Goni M. Sheikh who responded on behalf of the SGF congratulated the vice-chancellor and the university at large for being a recipient of the special intervention which he described as one of the biggest in the annals of the Ecological Fund.
Engr. Sheikh advised the university to establish a liaison desk that will work with contractors, sub-contractors and consultants on the project to ensure speedy completion of the job and adherence to the approved Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation.
Before performing the formal handing-over, the permanent secretary and his team were conducted around the project sites.
The project is expected to be completed in 16 months.