CSO knocks FG over multi-billion naira Maiduguri varsity fence
A Pro-Democracy and Human Rights group, Concerned Nigerians, have condemned the Federal government’s proposed plan to construct a 27.3 Kilometre perimeter fence around the University of Maiduguri at an exorbitant cost of N64 Billion.
Convener of the group, Deji Adeyanju, said the budgeted amount for a 27.3 Kilometer perimeter fence around the university of Maiduguri is over-bloated, exorbitant and overtly outrageous.
It could be recalled that the Federal Government began the construction of the 27.3-kilometer perimeter fence for the University of Maiduguri to check incessant attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
“We as an organization, understand the fact that there’s a rising and ongoing insecurity in North-Eastern Nigeria where the university is located and the need for the students and staff of the university to be protected, but the money being budgeted for the construction of 27.3 Kilometer Perimeter Fence round the institution is outrageous.
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“The country currently is surviving on borrowing and we have seen instances where money meant for projects like this are misappropriated or diverted into private pockets.”
While noting that the war has been turned into a franchise where few elites who are beneficiaries of arms deal contracts do everything to keep their arms and aid business afloat, he strongly condemned the Federal government’s rehabilitation and reintegration program for repentant Boko Haram, describing the scheme as fraudulent and ill-informed.
“The war against insurgency has lingered enough and we believe that the Buhari led administration is not doing enough to tame these monsters killing and maiming our fellow compatriots. The war has turned into a franchise where elites who are beneficiaries of arms deal contracts would do everything to keep their arms and aid business afloat.
“We sought the counsel of an expert, a civil engineer who told us that he has actually constructed a Fence that was more than 2km, a Block Wall fence, at 3m height, with Reinforced Concrete Double columns at every 5m, and single columns at every 3m that did not cost more than 15m per Kilometre. This includes the Barbed Wire Fencing and Angle irons on top. He further stated that even if you Precast Concrete with blast ballistics rating is being used to construct the Walls, it will not exceed 60m per Kilometre.”
“Even the Abacha regime that Nigerians think was the most corrupt is nothing compared to the monumental fraud that is being witnessed under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
In a recent interview, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities in UNIMAID, Dr Dani Mamman, had revealed that the project valued at N64 billion is to prevent Boko Haram terrorists from gaining access to the institution’s campus especially through its northeast exist.
He closed that only the western and southern parts of UNIMAID campus were initially fenced.
“The UNIMAID perimeter fence is still being constructed. The Federal Government approved N64 bn for the construction of 27.3-kilometre perimeter fence for UNIMAID. That place is very porous.
“The ASUU UNIMAID wrote to the Minister of Education through the ASUU President after an explosion during which we lost a professor and seven other staff.”
By Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja
