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Tag: Enugu

  • Enugu to rehabilitate 233 bus shelters, others

    •Recruits 65 workers for Parklane hospital

    The Enugu State government has approved the rehabilitation of 233 bus-stop shelters and hand rails in the Enugu metropolis.

    The exercise, aimed at renewing and upgrading urban structures, would start from the dual carriageway along 82 Division, Nigerian Army, to Akwata Pedestrian Bridge by Ogbete Main Market.

    Commissioner for Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority Chidi Aroh addressed reporters after the state executive council meeting.

    He said the government also approved the construction of new bus-stop shelters in all the newly-built roads, and the relocation of five “critical” bus-stops which obstruct traffic, such as the one at the popular Agric Bank junction, Independence Layout, Enugu.

    Aroh added that the decisions were reached after the council considered the recommendations of the team of technical experts constituted to review the state of the infrastructure, and how they can be enhanced and beautified to improve the status of Enugu as the historical capital of the Southeast.

    The commissioner said the council directed that the relocation be done within five days, while the rehabilitation should be completed in six weeks “in line with the government’s determination to always deliver on its promises as quickly as possible.”

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin, told reporters that the council approved the establishment of a Management Team for the new Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, which would soon start operation.

    Ekochin explained that the decision was taken in consideration of the sophisticated equipment at the centre, and the critical challenges of its management.

    He added that the Ministries of Information and Health were directed to call for expression of interest from national and international institutions, organisations and companies, for a period of one month.

    This, he said, would help the government to select the best hands to run the centre and “give citizens the best of healthcare delivery with best imaging, laboratory services and diagnostics in general”.

    Ekochin added that the council also approved the recruitment of 50 doctors (House Officers) for ESUT Parklane Hospital, Enugu to meet up with the medical demands of the hospital.

    He said 15 radiography interns will also be recruited to assist in the imaging department of the establishment.

  • Ezeagu communities Enugu host Ugwuanyi next Saturday

    Ezeagu communities Enugu host Ugwuanyi next Saturday

    COMMUNITIES in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State are to host the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi next Saturday. Ezeagu is a local government made up of homogenous autonomous communities. For the Ezeagu people, the reception is a form of a “thank you” gesture to the governor not only for the works he has been going in their area as well as other 16 local governments, but also the strategic appointments he (governor) made from the place.

    Ugwuanyi is likened to the proverbial akidi bean that the Igbo accuse of knowing no boundary while germinating its seeds. The people however feel that the Governor’s Midas touch in their local government is different in the sense that right from when he was chosen as the Governorship flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu state, he quickly settled to pick his running mate from their area, who today is the first female Deputy Governor in state. She is Lolo Cecilia Ezeilo from Aguobu Owa, the headquarters of Ezeagu local government council.

    The governor also picked his Chief of Staff, CoS, from the local government. The position of Chief of Staff is presumed to be a Governor’s closest confidant and top member of any administration’s kitchen cabinet. Dr. Festus Uzor who is Ugwuanyi’s CoS is regarded highly amongst Ezeagu people, having represented the local government in the state House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003, where he also became the speaker of the state legislature and later assumed other positions in the state.

    To the Ezeagu people, therefore, Ugwuanyi’s human capital development started in Ezeagu. Little wonder the traditional rulers, the custodians of the people, the town union presidents, the businessmen, the academia, traders, artisans from the entire communities came today to agree to give honour to whom it was due and chose a Professor of Anatomy, the Dean of Faculty of Basic Medicine ESUT college of Medicine, Prof. Chike Anibeze to be the chairman of civic reception planning committee. Anibeze said the March 17 dateline is an appreciation ceremony because of their people’s empowerment and how it has touched their lives. He said such empowerment translated into infrastructure provisions such as roads that have been done and the ones that are on-going as well as the ones they are anticipating the governor will further embark upon in the council area. Anibeze said the expectation of the day would be a mammoth presence of the kings, the kingmakers, the town unions, Nze ‘n Ozors, the politicians, native men and women, people from all walks of life in the council headquarters at Aguobu-Owa that would express appreciation to the Governor.

  • Enugu pledges to focus on grassroots sports

    Enugu pledges to focus on grassroots sports

    Enugu State Government says it will focus more on grassroots sports to fish out talents that will win laurels in national and international competitions.

    The Special Adviser to Enugu State Governor on Special Duties, Uwakwe Azikiwe, made the disclosure in Enugu on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi football tournament tagged `Gburugburu All Public Secondary Schools Football Championship’.

    Azikiwe who stood in for the governor at the event expressed dismay at the dearth of athletes and footballers across the country.

    The special adviser said that the government would keep organizing the championship annually to fish out young people that were talented.

    According to him, it was through grassroots sports that the likes of Jay-jay Okocha and Innocent Egbunike were discovered to play at international levels.

    “We are also going to accommodate other sports as the time goes on,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo to contest Enugu guber

    Azikiwe commended organizers of the tournament for a job well done and appealed to the private sector to support sports development in the state.

    Our reporter,  reports that the 2017/2018 championship which was played at the main bowl of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu kicked off in September, 2017.

    The National Grammar School, Nike emerged champions of the male football tournament by trashing Maryland Secondary School, Agbani 4-0.

    The Rosary High School, Awgu defeated Community Secondary School, Okpanku 2-0 to win the trophy in the female category.

    The championship was organized by the state’s Ministry of Youths and Sports in conjunction with Post Primary School Management Board and Science Technical Vocational Schools Management Board.

    NAN

  • Youths want inclusion in 2019 elections

    Youths want inclusion in 2019 elections

    Young leaders from the South have made a strong call for a more sustainable strategy for democratic inclusion of young people in Nigeria’s current political process and structure ahead of 2019 general elections.

    This call was part of the resolution reached at the “Southern young leaders’ conference for economic and political consciousness” held in Enugu over the weekend. 

    The conference which was attended by the over one thousand young leaders from across Southern Nigeria annexed the great economic potentials and political gaps/challenges in Southern Nigeria, with a view of bringing about a more sustainable strategy for democratic inclusion of young people in Southern Nigeria. 

    Convener of the conference, Moses Siasia, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the leaders at the conference agreed that Southern Governors must come together irrespective of their political affiliations to redefine and rejuvenate economic integration in Southern Nigeria.

    In a communique issued at the end of the conference, the young leaders agreed that there is a need for young leaders and all youth organizations within Southern Nigeria to mobilize, synergize and come together in order to achieve a collective future.

    The statement reads: “The Southern Young Leaders have decided to arise and strengthen the relationship with Rex Tillerson, the United States Secretary of State, who served in Southern Nigerian during his days at Exxon Mobile and understands the challenges faced by the region.  

    “All young leaders from southern Nigeria are hereby put on notice that mobilization would cut across higher institutions, religious establishments, women groups, youth advocacy groups for the collection of Permanent Voters Card ( PVCs ) and participation in the 2019 election.”

    Irresponsible attitude of some young people currently occupying political positions of leadership in Southern Nigeria was equally condemned at the conference and further urged the electorates to be more wary of the kind of Young Leaders they vote for in future elections.

    The Southern Young Leaders also collectively agreed to support a mass movement for a new Nigeria, come 2019.

    The conference had several speakers including the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon Luke Onofiok; former Bayelsa state governorship candidate and chairman of the Nigerian Young professionals Forum, Moses Siasia; immediate past president of Ijaw youth council, Udengs Eradiri amongst others.

    Attendance at the conference cut across representatives of all ethnic groups, political divides, state representatives, traditional leaders, religious leaders, student union leaders and young political aspirants from across southern Nigeria.

  • 118 Enugu communities receive N5m each for development projects

    118 Enugu communities receive N5m each for development projects

    One hundred and eighteen autonomous communities in Enugu State yesterday received N5m cheque each from the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for development projects of their choice.

    The communities were those who were able to fulfill the requirements for the release of the fund, as the first tranche of the N10 million earmarked for every community in the state to execute development projects of their choice.

    The 118 autonomous communities that received their cheques, according to the Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Gab Onuzulike, were among the 450 communities approved by the Enugu State Executive Council (EXCO) that have opened accounts with designated banks.

    He added that the remaining communities will receive theirs as soon as they open bank accounts and send the details to the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters/Rural Development.

    Ugwuanyi while presenting the cheques to the Traditional Rulers and the President Generals of Town Unions in the communities stated that the decision was in line with his administration’ resolve to empower each autonomous community in the state with the sum of N10 million  to carry out projects that would address their “peculiar and immediate development needs”.

    The governor added that the government decided that the choice of the projects and their execution were left “entirely” to the discretion and at the disposal of the stakeholders of each individual community.

    He said: “This was in fulfillment of our promise to promote participatory democracy and extensive rural development in the state as well as the involvement of all local communities in the implementation of government policies and programmes”.

    Ugwuanyi, who disclosed that the exercise was the first time in the history of the state, explained that the projects to be executed by the communities are different from those being done in various communities by his administration through the Community Development Project (CDP), the World Bank-assisted Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    According to him, “to march words with action, the State Executive Council on the 22nd of November 2017, approved the release of the sum of N2.25 billion to cover the first tranche of N5 million to be given to every community in the state so as to enable them commence work on their self-chosen projects. The communities were also asked to open bank accounts for the lodgment of the said funds”.

    While thanking the communities that received the cheques for their support and eagerness to participate in “this historic scheme”, Gov. Ugwuanyi expressed explicit confidence that they will utilize the funds for the identified purposes for the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of their people, reassuring that his administration will not relent in its development efforts until the fruits of good governance are felt in every community in Enugu State.

    The Igwes and the Town Unions’ Presidents-General, the Chairman of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Amb. Lawrence Agubuzu thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for the “innovative, unique, socio-economic and new developmental strategy for Enugu State”, saying that they are happy to have him as a governor.

    The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Town Unions, Hon. Paully Eze had described the release of the fund as a pleasant surprise, saying that the governor has wiped away the tears of the people in so many communities, who he said had never experienced any development project in their areas.

    He maintained that the grassroots development programme, will ensure that government presence is registered in all the over 450 autonomous communities in the state, commending Gov. Ugwuanyi for his passion for the wellbeing of the people.

  • Miyetti Allah canvases for peace with South East communities

    Miyetti Allah canvases for peace with South East communities

    Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), South-east zone met in Enugu on Sunday and assured South-Easterners of peaceful co-existence between them and their host communities.

    They also assured that the Fulani herdsmen have no grudges with the south-east states and dispelled the rumors that the herdsmen were planning to attack Anambra and Enugu states.

    At a meeting the association held weekend in Enugu, the zonal chairman, Gidado Sadiq in an address to participant drawn from the five south-east states regretted that the presence of a Fulani man was regarded as a threat to any community.

    He solicited that the Fulani man should be regarded as any Nigerians who can freely go to anywhere and perform his business. The group explained that they were  in the southeast states to look for greener pastures to feed their cattle.

    “We are not here to terrorize anyone, but we’re scared of people coming under the guise of the Fulani herdsmen to unleashed terror on our hosts. We advise our members to be watchful and report to us any strange face around them. We also implore the general public to be vigilant and not to allow anyone to destroy the peaceful co-existence we are enjoying,” stressed the group.

    The group was full of praises of the governors of the south-east, saying that the governors are peace-loving people. “We wanted our host communities to appreciate the efforts by the governors of the states.

    The governors are peace loving people and I continue to confess that  if other governors in other regions can emulate the footsteps of the governors of the South East, particularly those of Enugu and Anambra states, there will be no confrontation between cattle herdsmen and farmers.

    “Everybody should be given a fair judgment.  If a Fulani man allows his cattle to destroy people’s farm, he should be punished based on the offense he committed or paid adequate compensation to the farmer. In the other hand, if a cow was killed by a farmer or anybody from the community, the person will pay the value of the cow that he killed, and anybody who did wrong, whether it is a Fulani man or a native, he will be identified through his leaders.

    “We also warn our members to be very careful with the farmer’s crops and when they are migrating from one state to the other, they should inform the States leaders where they are passing through. We warn our members to stop crossing across the border of a state and destroy and run back to another state. More especially people usually come from Ebonyi state to destroy farms in Enugu and run back to Ebonyi state likewise those from Enugu go to Ebonyi and run back to Enugu”, Sadiq admonished.

  • Enugu poll: Ugwuanyi and his 2019 calculations

    Enugu poll: Ugwuanyi and his 2019 calculations

    As Enugu State prepares for next year’s governorship poll, Uchenna Nwobodo highlights the achievements of Governor Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi, which may qualify him for a second term in office.

    The Gburugburu narration is one that brings smiles to the faces of the of people of Enugu State. His name is Ifeanyichukwu, which translates to “Nothing is insurmountable to God.” Close associates however, said Gburugburu is actually his chieftaincy title, but has now almost subsumed his name. Gburugburu means “Every Where.”

    Indeed, since the quest to serve the people of Enugu state a broader level made him leave the House of Representatives where he gave his federal constituency quality representation for 12 years, to seek election as the state Governor, he has been living out his name and title. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s victory at the 2015 Enugu state governorship contest brought with a new lease of life for the people of the state.

    Essentially, as his first name, Ifeanyichukwu, implies, Governor Ugwuanyi, putting God first, has been able to surmount vagaries of office to wrought uncommon transformation on Enugu state. And as a Gburugburu, the enchanting Ugwuanyi story is a common refrain on the lips of Enugu people. The story of how he turned Enugu around just within two and half years of assumption of office has become a melodious song on the lips of the people.

    Ugwuanyi has solidly stamped his presence everywhere in the state in the mould of signatures projects of his three year old administration.

    The Ugwuanyi phenomena is emotionally and vividly captured here: There is a touching correlation between 1919, the governor and Amuri, a sleepy community in Nkanu West local government area of the state. The British colonial administration had intervened on the Community’s road in 1919 with a signpost to show for it.The signpost still stands till today as a nostalgic reminder of the ‘benevolence’ of the British colonial overlords to Amuri . As narrated by the people, since 1919, successive governments in the state have turned their backs on Amuri and treated them as second citizens as no form of infrastructural development has taken place in their community.

    A hundred years later, Amuri has got a new ‘signpost’ courtesy governor Ugwuayi- a road his administration constructed in the community- and the people are ecstatic. When the governor visited Amuri recently to inspect the road, his presence elicited wild excitement as the people enthusiastically trooped out to welcome him.

    Ugwuanyi’s intervention in Amurri is also true of other parts of the state. His state-wide people oriented socio- economic and infrastructural re-invention of Enugu resonates in all nooks and crannies of the state. Indeed, Ugwuanyi’s wondrous achievements within the two and half years he has been on the saddle speak for him. Avalanche of unsolicited 2019 second term endorsements he has received so far have their locale in his achievements. The people of Enugu are appreciative and want him back in 2019.All they want is Gburugburu and no one else.

    Ugwuanyi is unassuming and has no airs around him. And unlike some of his brother-governors; the Enugu state helmsman does not dance to the gallery. And  is not a slave to media propaganda in terms of showing off his achievements. As a Public Relations guru, the governor knows that publics deserve undiluted truth rather than pernicious propagandas, instead of trumpeting, hyping his government’s projects that dot the state’s landscape in the media or listing non existing projects as his, he delivers visible, verifiable projects and allow the people to do the trumpeting, cheering and clapping themselves. This has earned him unprecedented goodwill no governor of the state has ever enjoyed in the history of Enugu state.

    Primate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr.Kanu Uche , normally not one to heap effusive praises on politicians, says Ugwuanyi is exceptional and deserves a 2019 come back. To the Methodist Church leader, Ugwuanyi is a poster boy of good and purposeful governance. His words: “Any governor or politician who wants to be re-elected in 2019 must perform as that is the best campaign to give to the people the dividend of democracy.”

    Then, the clincher: “Governor Ugwuanyi has done very well…even those in graves, if they are allowed to vote will vote for you, the performing governor of Enugu state. This man is using the resources given to him very well to develop the state”.

    Like former President Goodluck Jonathan who in one of his famous speeches had declared ‘I have no enemies to fight’, Ugwuanyi, evidently has no enemies to fight in Enugu politics. The state has in the past been the hotbed of octane political wrangling.

    In terms of peaceful political atmosphere and tolerance, Ugwuanyi’s Enugu is a clean break from the Enugu of his two immediate predecessors during whose tenures the state witnessed debilitating political fisticuffs and endless feuds among its political actors. However, the bi-partisan approach to politics which Ugwuanyi brought to bear on his relationship with politicians across parties in the state is largely responsibility for the prevailing tranquility in Enugu’s political turf.

    Senator Gilbert Nnaji representing Enugu East describes Dovish Ugwuanyi in the following flowery terms: ‘The prevailing peace, political tolerance and bi-partisan disposition that defines his government rekindle hope that of a truth there can be dividends of democracy without necessarily deploying state resources to suppress dissenting voices. He has unified the leaders and elders of the state such that political parties in the state today merely exist in the books even as access to better life is no longer determined by political consideration or other illogical sentiments. His commitment to things that benefits the masses as against personal interests of the privileged few as it is unprecedented.”

    Evidence of his harmonious relationship with the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC in the state can be gleaned from praises often heaped on him by leaders of the party.APC National Vice Chairman, South east, Emma Eneukwu eulogies Ugwuanyi thus: “Governor Ugwuanyi has created a peaceful atmosphere that has made it possible for everybody to be one when it comes to issues concerning the state”.

    Other APC leaders, including Second Republic governor of the old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Director-General of Voice of Nigeria,Osita Okechukwu and Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyema, have kind words for Ugwuanyi.

    Ugwuanyi’s shrewd management of financial resources of Enugu state in the face of debilitating economic challenges is one of the hallmarks of his administration. His judicious use of the Paris Club refund recently earned him commendation from Senator Abdullahi Gumel, Chairman of the Senate Committee on State and local government administration who acknowledged the Governor’s transparency and accountability in the application of the fund. Senator Gumel: “We have gone through the books and as far as the bailout funds are concerned, everything is in order .In fact, Enugu state has even gone further because we haven’t seen this in any other state”.

    It confounds many that Ugwuanyi executed the transformative projects without borrowing a dime unlike many of his counterparts. However, being an Accountant and manager of money, Ugwuanyi knows the benefits of financial discipline and prudency.

    Appreciative of the their governor’s solid stamps on sands of time, outpouring of supports and endorsements for Ugwuanyi’s yet to be declared second term has been overwhelming. , For example traders in the state recently shut markets and poured into the famous Michael Okpara Square for a rally in support of his re-election in 2019. The traders are enamored by Ugwuanyi’s innovative human development and empowerment programme which ensures that 100 of them (traders) win #50,000 every month to help expand their businesses.

    Commercial Tricycle riders, motorcyclists among many other groups and associations in the state have also organized  huge rallies thanking Ugwuanyi for his magical strides and endorsing his return in 2019.

    Apart from his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which has since expressly given its nod for Ugwuanyi’s second term, various political parties in the state under the aegis of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC has also endorsed him for second term. Many prominent chieftains of the main opposition in the state, APC agree Ugwuanyi is a good product that must be kept hence they are massively working for his re-election albeit secretly for the fear of being accused of anti-party activities by their party.

    Senator Nnaji wants fellow PDP members in the state nursing the ambition of jostling for the party’s 2019 guber ticket with Ugwuanyi to bury the idea because “in keeping faith with his electoral promises, he has radically changed the narratives and conspicuously raised the bar of good governance and service delivery .His people –oriented, all inclusive and responsive leadership has indeed entrenched a new order where everyone and every part truly belong”

    Workers in the state’s civil service say they have never had it so good as they applaud Governor Ugwuanyi for paying them 13th month salary last December. Enugu retirees are also singing the governor’s adulation for not owing them pensions. The Nigerian Labour Unions say Enugu under Ugwuanyi comes tops in the areas of minimum wage implementation.

    Apart from Primate Kanu, prominent clergymen in Enugu are equally bearing witnesses to the governor’s sterling performance. These include two fiery priests, the Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Emmanuel Chukwuma and Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry (AMEN) fame.

    While Enugu indigenes and other Nigerians who are awed by Ugwuanyi’s massive re-engineering of Enugu stridently endorse him for second term, others are already carving a role for him beyond 2019 and seeing him through the prism of 2023.One of such persons is Ebere Wabara, a columnist and social commentator. Said Wabara in a piece recently: “I have the conviction that, at the opportune time, Governor Ugwuanyi would be thinking of Igbo presidency and his robust prospects. He should begin to luxuriate on that presently since his re-election is a foregone matter on the ground of his leadership quintessence and currency exponential endorsements”

    With the massive state-wide goodwill he enjoys on the account of his trail blazing performance, 2019 governorship contest in Enugu looks good to be one duel between Gburugburu and Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi. For, as it is said in Nigeria’s local political parlance, there is no vacancy in Enugu State Government House!

    • Nwobodo writes from Nike, Enugu.
  • 7-year-old Miss Enugu, emerges Little Miss Valentine 2018

    7-year-old Miss Enugu, emerges Little Miss Valentine 2018

    Seven-year-old Miss Enugu, Anna Akandu, emerged Little Miss Valentine Nigeria 2018 late on Sunday night.

    Our reporter gathered that the organiser of the event, Chelsy Odunze, the Chief Executive Officer, Chozy Concept, confirmed this from Calabar, Cross River, through a telephone conversation where the event took place.

    She said that Akandu, who emerged the winner out of five finalists, was crowned by her predecessor-in-office, Miss Eunice Ogboru from Delta.

    She told reporter that the judges in their unanimous decision said that Akandu had attractive looks, elegance in steps and display of intelligence in responding to questions.

    Odunze also said that six year-old Miss Anambra, Treasure Epoke, emerged the first runner-up, while the second runner-up was Miss Lagos, Blossom Etim-Effiom.

    Odunze, added that the contest was established to identify brilliant children and begin to introduce them to leadership and public challenges.

    “Our motive is to inculcate in our little kids, the confidence to face a large audience and display their self esteem.

    “ We have discovered that most of our children are restricted to their homes, schools and maybe, to friends and social activities around their localities.

    “Most parents no longer have time to take their children out to competitions or public functions, “she said.

    Odunze said that such a contest such as the one organised by him would train children on how to inter face with a large crowd from infancy, build self-confidence and sharpen their intellects.

    She noted that the junior contest, which embraced school children from age six to age 12, was more of an educative forum for culture and general intelligence.

    It is also to take their minds off the negative impact of social media.

    According to her, gone are the days when pageants were regarded as immoral thing by the public because they thought it was only meant to expose the sensitive areas of the female bodies.

    She said that the contest afforded the children the opportunity to display their various cultural outfits and decent evening gowns.

    Our reporter  have it that the current winners emerged from five finalists out of the 30 candidates that registered for this year’s grand finale.

    She added that the new little Miss Valentine went home with an electric griller, (home appliance) and school accessories.

    Also, that second and third winners got table top gas cookers and school bags.

    Odunze added that the organiser gave out consolation prizes comprising branded exercise books, mathematical sets and certificates of participation to all the participants,” she said.

    According to her, some of the dignitaries at the event include: Most Creamy Kid Nigeria World 2017, Joel Amarachi, Little Master and Miss Independence 2017 and Prof. Akosa Winifred of the Department Of History, University of Calabar.

  • Enugu govt commences rehabilitation of 103.48km-rural roads

    ENUGU State government has flagged off the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads in different parts of the state under the auspices of the Enugu State Rural Access and Mobility Project (Enugu RAMP- 2). In a speech before the flagoff ceremony, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, and Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Gabriel Ajah, said that Enugu State is one of four states implementing RAMP-2 in the country, noting that it comes as a complement to the rural, agricultural and other socio-economic development initiatives of the state government.

    “This administration has always maintained an unreserved commitment towards the successful and satisfactory implementation of World Bank and other donorassisted projects and progammes in the state,” he said. He therefore assured the people of the state that his administration would continue to do its utmost to ensure the full realisation and timely delivery of RAMP-2. Earlier in an address, RAMP’s national co-ordinator, Engr. Uba Ndoma, noted that his office has embarked on the rehabilitation and construction of some rural roads which, when complete, will help rural dwellers to transfer their commodities to the market. He appealed to all the benefiting communities to take full ownership of the project and ensure that the machineries, equipment and personnel of contractors are well secured and that nothing is done by them to truncate the laudable project.

  • ‘Complete Enugu/ Onitsha Expressway’

    The National Coordinator of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, said yesterday that the Umunya axis of Enugu/Onitsha expressway project had been abandoned by the contractor.

    The road is a federal project.

    Obigwe spoke after a visit to the site. The Nation learnt that during the campaign for November 18 governorship election, work was going on at the site, but the contractor abandoned the place immediately the results were announced.

    Obigwe said: “It is an act of deception for the project to be abandoned after the governorship poll. The opposition should refrain from playing on the intelligence of Anambra people. The contractor should return to the site to continue work and complete the project before the rainy season. Their claim to have concluded arrangement with the Federal Ministry of Works for the building of Otuocha-Nzam-Innoma-Iheaka-Ibaji-Odulu-Ajejewu federal road is a ploy to deceive the people of Anambra East and West. The opposition should stop deceiving us.”

    He urged the Federal Government to reimburse Anambra State Government the N43 billion spent on the execution of federal projects.

    Obigwe hailed elders led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku for demanding the refund of the money.

    He said: “Tony Nwoye, who parades himself as the only federal lawmaker from Anambra State, should use his connection to get the money if he cares about the welfare of the people. He should intervene and ensure the money is refunded to the government.”