The Vice-Chancellor of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara Engr. Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu has received the government delegation led by the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Taiye Abanika as well as the State Consultant, Engr. Kabiru Suleiman for the official flag off of the perimeter fencing of 100 hectares of land out of the 400 hectares originally mapped out for CUSTECH as an institution.
Speaking at the Second Gate of CUSTECH where the flag off took place, Engr. Taiye Abanika said, “The ugly incident that happened here on the 9th of May, 2024 where some hoodlums attacked CUSTECH and went away with some of our students is not one we will want to see it repeat itself.
His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo swung into immediate action to see to the safe recovery of our students except two of them that lost their lives in the hands of their abductors.”
According to Balogun Omeiza David, Head, Public Relations,
CUSTECH, Osara, the Commissioner at this juncture asked all those who were present at the flag off to observe a minute silence as a sign of respect to the souls of the departed students.
Speaking further, Hon. Taiye Abanika said, “The governor does not want to leave any stone unturned concerning the issue of security on this campus. That is why he took the initiative by quickly looking out for a contractor to come on board and erect the perimeter fencing of the university to secure it and make it more protected. He added that, “We have got a Governor who is not ready to joke with the lives of the citizens of Kogi State. He is so passionate about the welfare of everyone in the state and that is why today he has directed that the contract of the perimeter fencing of CUSTECH be handed over to the contractor without delay. Here we are today the 28th day of June,2024 in the presence of our erudite scholar, workaholic and well respected Vice-Chancellor, Engr. Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu for the mini ceremony of the handing over of the site to the contractor.”
The Commissioner also went on to introduce the team in his entourage from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for the flag off of the perimeter fencing project which he said will take the contractor between 6 to 9 months to handover the completed work. The name of the company to work on the perimeter fencing at CUSTECH was given by the Commissioner as RSA Global. The contract paper was thereafter handed over to him with an instruction that his company should start work without any delay and work according to the specifications spelt out to them in the contract paper. The representative of RSA Global gave his word that they will work diligently and handover the project within the time frame given to them.
The State Consultant, Engr. Suleiman Kabiru said, “the perimeter fencing that is about to be started at CUSTECH is one that will include some facilities that will in no small measure go a long way to ensure a perfect security architecture for the ivory tower.
He said there will be the provision of solar powered street lights, properly mounted CCTV cameras and erection of security watch towers at strategic positions along the perimeter fencing lines at CUSTECH.
The Vice-Chancellor, Engr. Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu thanked the Honourable Commissioner, the State Consultant, all the team from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the representative of RSA Global.
In his words, “ I want to sincerely on behalf of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara appreciate this project as one that words won’t be enough to explain how jocund my heart is. I want to humbly ask the Honourable Commissioner to kindly deliver our gratitude to His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State that what he is doing is unprecedented and unrivalled in the history of Nigeria. Nobody knew that our dear Governor has more than this capacity he is operating with in terms of his swift and prompt response to the cases of insecurity we have in Kogi State.
“On behalf of the university we want to sincerely thank him for this project as it will go a long way to allay the fears of parents and guardians of the students placed under our care and watch. Those who came to launch an attack against us tried to demarket us but to the glory of God Almighty they did not succeed. In addition, the Vice-Chancellor said, “As an institution of higher learning, we are going to live up to our mandate to make sure that learning, teaching and moral development is well delivered to our students.”
Engr. Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu also eulogized the Governor for coming to the aid of CUSTECH by awarding 350 rooms each for the male and female hostels totaling 700 rooms to help in alleviating the issue of accommodation on campus. He said the work is ongoing speedily and there is much hope that the project will soon be completed seeing the speed of the cheetah that the contractors are working with at the moment.