The Engineering Materials and Equipment Development Institute in Katsina State, a division of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, has reached 80 per cent completion, the agency said in a statement on Sunday.

A team from NASENI’s Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, led by the Acting Director of Administration and Human Resources, Yetunde Ajayi, visited the project site last week to assess the construction progress.

“The land, which was handed over to NASENI by the Katsina State government, now has an administrative block that is nearly completed, a production and assembling workshop that is fully built, as well as a completed gatehouse and perimeter fence,” NASENi said.

According to the project manager of EMEDI Katsina, M.S. Abdullahi, the institute will play a crucial role in developing silica resources in the state, using modern techniques and tools.

Consultants overseeing the construction, O.O. Kashim of Alims & Associates Ltd. and Hassan Abdulraheem of Ground Scope and Residences Ltd., assured the NASENI team of their commitment to completing the project on schedule.

The monitoring team also visited the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre in Zangon Daura, where they met with contractors and workers.

While inspecting completed structures, including a perimeter fence and an administrative block, the team was briefed on security challenges at the site.

“The NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre, when completed, will provide job opportunities for youths, create wealth, and contribute to national growth and development,” the statement added.