Bauchi Spends N3bn To Construct, Renovate 612 Blocks Of Classrooms

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Governor Bala Mohammed-led administration in Bauchi State has so far spent N3 billion for the renovation and construction of 207 and 405 classrooms for primary and secondary schools respectively within the first one year in office.

The projects cut across the three senatorial districts of the State.

This was disclosed by the projects Site Engineer with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBED), Engineer Bello Zubairu while briefing journalists, who were on an inspection tour of projects executed by administration in the state since assumption of office a year ago.

Zubairu said at the site project of one of the schools at 1000 Housing Estate in Bauchi metropolis, that the projects were executed in partnership between SUBEB and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEB) with the sum of N1.5 billion each as counterpart funding, adding that work on the projects were in tandem with standard specifications.

The projects inspection media team was also told that 16 other Special Schools projects were executed by the state government across the state at a cost of N500 million aimed at promoting the development of basic education.

On its own, the State Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its Sites Projects Engineer, Mukhtar Mohammed Musa said at the Yelwa Practicing School of the former Bauchi Teachers College, that the school established in 1931 was fully renovated and a solar-powered borehole sunk in its premises which was also fenced.

Musa explained that 16 various projects across the state were either newly constructed or renovated under collaborative efforts between the State Office of SDGs and the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) of the Federal Government with 50% each as counterpart funding.

Musa further explained that the projects which were executed in hard-to-reach (HTR) areas of the state, included the provision of equipment, furniture, as well as teaching and learning materials.

The media team also inspected the 6.2km Jos-Dass road bye pass where the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Works, Engineer Stephen Abubakar said the project is being executed at a cost of N2.2 billion and has reached 85% completion.

At the State Water Treatment Plant at Gubi Dam site where rehabilitation and expansion programmes are being undertaken, the Project Engr. Abdulmumini Mailafia said that works on the projects are going according to specification.

Mailafia said both the rehabilitation works on the existing system that provides 45 million litres, and the expansion programme that will provide 75 million litres of clean water to Bauchi metropolis and environs have reached appreciable stages of completion

Also speaking, Acting project manager of LUTECH PRATIBHA JV Construction Company, an Indian coy undertaking the expansion works, Mr. Nanda Kumar said that the company undertakes both the rehabilitation and expansion programmes of the project.

Kumar also said; “In the rehabilitation of the treatment plant, we are increasing the capacity from 37, 000 cubic meters per day to 45, 000 cubic meters per day and we are expanding the project from 45, 000 cubic meters per day to 75, 000 cubic meters per day.

“Both the rehabilitation and expansion works are going smoothly, as the projects are expected to be completed by June this year. We are hopeful that there will be some extension on the scheduled period.”

He further said that the rehabilitation is almost 60% completed while the expansion work has reached 50% completion, adding that the company will also rehabilitate the old sub-station, as well build a new one at the site.