The development initiative of the University witnessed a major boost with the commencement of the reconstruction of its Ring Road.
The 2.8Km Ring Road is centrally pivotal to the University community as it is the utility road connecting virtually all offices and facilities in the institution.
The University’s Governing Council accented the approval for the reconstruction of the road at its statutory meeting, with the award of the project to OAA Nig. Ltd, which had since moved to site, on Thursday, 18th August.
Many community members including staff and students, who spoke with UNAAB Bulletin, expressed delight at the reconstruction, saying they were taken by surprise as they were just expecting an ordinary rehabilitation and not a full-scale reconstruction.
The respondents said the road, when completed will complement the Ceremonial Road that was also reconstructed, earlier in the year, for a smooth motoring experience.
According to the Resident Engineer for ALF & Partners, the Consultant for the project, Engr. Ibacrumho Omoh, in a chat with UNAAB Bulletin, said “the progress of work on the road is encouraging as the asphalt is already being laid on some portions. We ascertained to ensure a minimum of 100 percent insitu density of earth work compaction”.
Engr. Omoh, expressed confidence that the project would be completed before its 12 weeks schedule as he said, “The contractor has got his logistics and management well wrapped-up and as such, there cannot be any delay”.
In the same vein, the Works and Services Department of the University had embarked on the patching of the bad portions of the Camp-UNAAB road, to make it more motorable for commuters.
The road, which many claimed to be Trunk A (Federal) road, has for a long time been in a deplorable condition, thereby warranting frequent superficial maintenance by the Management of the University.
The Head of the Civil Unit of the Department of Works and Services, Engr. Kehinde Ajiboye and Supervisor of the maintenance team, said the material being used for the repairs, was sourced from excavated asphalt from the on-going Ring Road reconstruction.
Engr. Ajiboye said the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Samuel Oluwalana, was instrumental in negotiating with the contractor handling the Ring Road, whom he said, cooperated in releasing the excavated asphalt, free of charge for the repair works.
The Supervisor added that the maintenance work could have been concluded within two weeks, but for the shortage of adequate labour required for a speedy exercise, but however, assured that the road would be put in good shape before the school re-opens for the new academic session.
Engr. Ajiboye, pleaded with the Federal Government or whoever has responsibility over the road, to consider the plight of communities, including the University, using the road to carry out its complete overhaul.
“Standard drainage system will have to be channelled along the roads, so that it will not go bad too soon”, the Engineer, advised.