Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) needs about N500
million to check erosion at its main campus, authorities of the institution
say.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ogwo E. Ogwo,
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the weekend in Uturu that
the erosion was threatening to pull down the institution�s main library as
well as the college of humanities and social sciences building.
Ogwo said that the erosion had washed away previous
control measures constructed by the state government.
The vice-chancellor said that although the UNDP and
officials of the government had assessed the situation no help had come to
the university to check the damages.
He said that �the state government has been helpful, but
as you will know they themselves have been crying for funds�.
�Sometime ago, the UNDP stepped in and we are required to
provide some counterpart fundings, but we have not heard again from UNDP.
�The UNDP representative has visited us several times but
there has been nothing concrete done .�
Ogwo said that the state commissioner for environment and
solid minerals development visited the institution in September and promised
to take steps to check the most serious areas.
�We are hoping that they will soon do what they have
promised to do to tackle the more pressing erosion sites.
�Erosion control is an area that we need all the
assistance that we can get, otherwise some of the buildings on campus are at
risk.�
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to improve its
infrastructure base and increase the intake of students, the university has
embarked on the building of new office blocks.
According to Ogwo, the university has completed the
construction of the a senate building, started in 2002 and funded by the
Education Tax fund.
He said that the building designed by the institution�s
department of architecture was built at N32.2 million, adding that a 2000
seater classroom block, also sponsored by ETF at a cost of N45 million would
be ready by the end of the month.
In addition, he said a 1,200 seater classroom block
valued at N26 million was being executed by the university administration
and would be ready by the end of the month.
Ogwo said that the classroom block was being funded with
internally generated revenue, adding that since the institution depended
solely on its efforts, the administration procured four electricity
generating sets valued at N18.1 million for power supply.
He also said that another classroom block was being built at the Umudike
outpost of the university, while the teaching hospital was expected to be
ready by the end of the year.
