EXTRA: Jigawa acquires private varsity for N11bn

The Jigawa state government has approved the acquisition of Khadija University, a privately owned institution located in Majia town, for N11 billion.

Sagir Ahmed, spokesperson to the state government, confirmed the development the development to journalists on Wednesday after the state executive council meeting.

He noted that the move aligns with the government’s 12-point agenda to enhance access to education in Jigawa.

Ahmed explained that the council approved an initial payment of 40 percent of the total sum, amounting to N4.07 billion, while the remaining 60 percent will be settled in two installments.

“The executive council approved the purchase of Khadija University, Maji’a by the Jigawa State Government at the cost of Eleven Billion Naira (N11, 000,000,000.00) only,” the statement reads.

“Similarly, the council has approved advance payment of 40% to the tone of Four Billion, Seventy Million Naira (N4, 070,000,000.00) only to the owner of the University, while the 60% balance is to be paid in two instalments as agreed between the two parties.”

In addition to the university purchase, the state government approved various contracts aimed at improving water access across the state.

These include the construction of 89 hand pumps, 35 solar-powered water collection points, and the conversion of one generator-powered collection point to solar power across the 23 constituencies.

The total expenditure for these projects is over N411.8 million.

Further approvals include the payment of N400 million as counterpart funding for the federal government’s partnership for the extended WASH (PEWASH) programme and the rural water supply and sanitation agency (RUWASA) project.

Additionally, the state government has approved the purchase of 20 new combine harvesters, each costing N62.39 million, with a total expenditure of over N1.24 billion.

An advance payment of N374.34 million was also approved for AGRA consortium to facilitate the procurement of the harvesters.