Enugu approves over N1.8 billion for roads, court buildings

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has approved the award of contracts for the construction of 14 new court buildings in the judicial divisions and magisterial districts across the state.

Ugwuanyj also awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of the access road leading to the dump site of the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA) at Ogui Nike, Enugu North Local Government Area, which is currently being evacuated by the state government for the first time in the past 12 years. Also approved was the construction and rehabilitation of Ebeano Estate road and John Nwodo close by Otigba junction, Enugu. The three projects will cost the state government the sum of N452,001,262.95.

The administration equally approved free artificial limbs for 300 persons with amputated limbs in partnership with a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), revealing that 250 amputees have so far applied for the exercise.

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Briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting, the commissioner for works and infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji explained that court buildings spread across the three senatorial districts of the state, include eleven magistrate courts of various types, two open court registries and a High Court, adding the projects were awarded at the cost of N1, 390, 272,622.13.

Nnaji stated that Gov. Ugwuanyi has always shown outstanding commitment to the growth and development of the Judiciary through his administration’s numerous programmes, disclosing that the last time new courts were constructed in the state was over 11 years ago.

The commissioner noted that the council’s decision was also borne out of the governor’s vision to reposition the Judiciary to maintain its pride of place as the last hope of the common man. He added that the structures were carefully designed and will be provided with state-of-the-art facilities to effectively serve the purpose of a modern court.

On the ESWAMA dump site, the works commissioner further explained that the road project was considered and awarded to create access for the transportation of refuse to the site, stating that the engineering design provided for “drainage and complete remediation and regeneration.”

He also added that the infrastructural development at the site will open up the area for investment as investors in waste management would be able to access and exploit the waste and transform it into wealth for the economic benefit of the state.

Nnaji also said that government had provided a temporary dump site at Ugwu Onyeama, off Enugu-Onitsha expressway, as an alternative place pending the completion of the access road.

On the Ebeano road, the commissioner pointed out that it will serve as a bypass for motorists from Otigba junction through UBA to Bissalla road and decongest traffic at the popular New Haven junction for ease of transportation in that area, saying that the project will be flagged-off on Thursday as the contractor is already mobilizing to site.

Also in his speech, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin, disclosed that Enugu at the global level was one of the three states nominated for the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award as one of the state governments with best policies on free maternal and child healthcare programme.

Dr. Ekochin further disclosed that the council in keeping with the state government’s vision to take healthcare delivery to the next level especially during outbreak of deadly diseases approved the establishment of an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) in conjunction with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

He stated that the centre will serve as the information technology hub for the coordination of emergency activities in the state, saying: “Enugu State is one of the states doing this at this point in time with the NCDC”.