Why President Buhari assents to Transport University bill as parting gift
By Ray Ugochukwu
It is no longer news that the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, Katsina State, has been given an official nod with the signing of the bill establishing it by President Muhammadu Buhari. What is, is the role the tertiary institution is to play in the country’s economy.
The bill was passed by the Senate on April 6, 2022, and by the House of Representatives on November 22, 2022 and presented to President Buhari on the March 1, 2023 and which he assented on March 30, 2023.
President Buhari
The university, according to the bill, will be a training institution for the development of transportation engineering, logistics and other courses of interest that would support post-modern transportation industry.
The sponsors of the bill are aware of the role of transportation as “the artery of the economy” of any nation; hence the passage of the bill.
Consequently, the Act provides the legislative framework for the establishment of the Daura citadel of learning to explore in-depth and continuous cutting-edge research in transportation engineering, logistics and other courses of interest that will support industry. It would also offer diverse courses in its core area of interest leading to the award of first degrees, postgraduate degrees, diploma and other professional certificates.
The Transportation University, Daura, would, among other things, pave way for the domestication of railway engineering and general transportation sciences in Nigeria, thereby bridging the technology and skill gap in the rail system and ultimately the transportation sector.
Sambo, Minister of Transportation
It is believed that the University can reach the target of training people, technology transfer and developing the railway industry which is in huge demand in Nigeria and the West African region as a whole. The University is expected to mark a new level of growth and economic and educational development in the economy, enhance managerial capacity, pave the way for innovation in Nigeria’s transport system, and create more job opportunities
A copy of the bill was presented to the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, by the former member representing Daura/Maidua/Sandamu Federal Constituency, Prof. Umar Adam Katsayal, who is the consultant on the establishment of the University as well as the Chairman, Interim Management Committee of the University and the Chairman CCECC Nigeria Limited, Mr Jason Zhang.
CCECC is constructing the University as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at no cost to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
