The Ahmadu Bello
University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna state, has developed a prototype refinery with a capacity of refining one barrel of crude oil per day. The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, disclosed this yesterday while addressing newsmen at the main Campus in Samaru, Zaria. Our correspondent  reports that the briefing was part of series of activities toward the 38th convocation ceremony slated for Saturday, January 30. “This is a prototype refinery that runs on one barrel a day. It is a very long term project, we started it and then Raw Materials Development Council came in to support. “The project being built in stages, so far we can produce petrol (PMS) and diesel. We need more support from potential supporters and investors to take it to the next level,” said the vice chancellor. He said the university had signed an agreement with Kaduna Refinery and Petrol Chemical Company (KRPC) on supply of crude oil but they were yet to fulfil their obligation. Garba said the institution had repositioned itself to address some of the national challenges through research and development in its post graduate school. He identified inadequate accommodation as one of the pressing challenges facing the institution with more than 40,000 student population apart from lack of fund. The vice chancellor called for public-private partnership to address the accommodation problem. He recalled that the Mechanical Engineering Department had recently designed and produced a car called ABU Car. Garba said Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chairman and Chief Executive, Dangote Group, was expected to deliver a pre-convocation lecture on Friday evening, while Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II , would chair the occasion.