NEWS

Gov Mbah flags-off construction of 78.85kms roads in Nkanu East, West LGAs, urges speedy execution

Maureen Ikpeama9 months ago9 months ago5710 mins

In line with his campaign promises to grow the economy of the state from the current $4.4Billion to $30Billion and make the State an economic hub of the South East, Governor of Enugu State,Dr. Peter Mbah , Wednesday, flagged -off the construction of multiple road projects totaling 78.85kms in Nkanu East and Nkanu West Local Government areas of the state.

Pix: Gov

Speaking during the flag-off of 9.30kms Amodu-Akpugo Road, 5km Amagu-Atakwu-Akegbe Ugwu-Akpasha Road, and 3.12kms Obuofia-Obeagu-Akegbe Ugwu Road totaling 17.32kms roads in Amodu, Nkanu West L.G.A, also at Nara in Nkanu East LGA,

where he flagged-off the construction of 12.96km Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara Road, 7kms Nomeh-Oduma Road, 7.20kms Mburubu-Nkereffi Road, 9kms Nara-Nkerefi Road, 9.7km Amagunze-Ihuokpara-Ugbawka Road, 8.67kms Akpawfu-Akpugo-Amagunze Road with a spur to Umuoma Onicha, and 6.90km Isiogbo Nara-Isu Road, totalling 60.90kms, Governor Mbah described the construction of the multiple roads as “an agricultural renaissance”, adding that the roads will connect Nkanu- East to the West, Aninri LGA, and Ebonyi State.

He said, “In the last few days, we have flagged- off about 90km of roads and bridges across these various local governments.

“Today, we are here to again perform this all important event of the flag off. What you see here at this location may just be project signages indicating a few kilometres of road, but in actual terms, we are here to flag-off the construction of about 90kms of roads in both Nkanu East and Nkanu West. But we cannot just go to all the roads one after the other.

“What we are about to witness in our various communities is an agricultural renaissance. As you already have known, we are setting up farm estates in different wards on a minimum of 200 hectares of land each. The farm estate would ensure that we take our agriculture potential to an industrial scale. So, our growth in agriculture will not just be for food. Agriculture for us will be a serious business and a major force for economic growth.

“We equally understand that if we are trying to attract cottage industries in our various rural areas, we must, as a matter of urgency, ensure that we have wide and paved roads.

“These roads are not only going to seamlessly connect Nkanu East to the West, but also Aninri LGA, and Ebonyi State.

The Governor assured that the project will be completed before the rains next year. He said his administration was not in the business of abandoning projects.

“We want to assure you that we are not in the business of abandoning projects. We cannot take up projects that we have not budgeted for and projects that we have not secured funding for. We are equally particular about timelines because we have no tolerance for cost and time overrun. We freeze the cost, we freeze the timeline. We agreed with the contactors on when to deliver and if they fail to deliver, they will pay us liquidated damages,”he said

Pix: Comm for works and infrastructure ,Engr. Gerald Otiji

The Governor reassured the commitment of his administration in serving the people of Enugu,saying, “the promises we made to ndi Enugu will be kept sacred. We are going to serve ndi Enugu with every fibre that we have”. He urged the people of the areas to support the contractors and protect their equipment.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji, said Governor Mbah was on a ” revolutionary development” The construction of 260 Smart schools, 260 Type 2 Primary Health Care Centers,260 Farm estate in the 260 political wards of the state , were “testament of who is prepared. Between Nkanu West and East ,you are getting 120 kms of roads put together.”

Pix: Uche Nwatu

Giving a brief run down of the roads, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects Development Implementation(PDI), Arc. Uchenna Nwatu, assured the people of effective and intensive supervision to ensure quality delivery as demanded by the Governor. He said the road will last for two decades

On his part, the Contractor, Managing Director of GOWASK Engineering Ltd, Hilary Abaratu, assured that they were going to execute the project according to specifications , high quality and timeframe spelt out in the contract.

Pix: His Excellency Sunday Onyebuchi

In their goodwill messages, the former Deputy Governors of Enugu state, Sunday Onyebuchi his counterpart, Bishop Ralph Nwoye; Member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Hon. Nnoli Nnaji; Chairman of Nkanu West LGA, Hon. John Ogbodo and his Nkanu East counterpart, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh; Member representing Nkanu West State Constituency, Hon. Iloabuchi Aniagu, and his Nkanu East State Constituency counterpart, Hon. Okey Mbah;

Pix: Bishop Nwoye

Chairman, Nkanu West Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Obiora Igweshi, and the 1st Grand Patron, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Abel Nwobodo; Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih;

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Hon.Uche Anichukwu, commended Governor Mbah for his developmental strides in the state.

Pix: Hon Okechukwu Edeh, Chairman Nkanu East and ALGON chairman .

They described the road’s projects as life changing, explaining that the road would ease transportation challenges faced by farmers as farmers would have access to their farms and easy transportation of their farm produce to the markets.

Hon. Nnaji promised that he will install solar streetlights in all the roads the Governor will construct in Nkanu, saying, ” “we will not allow you to bear all the cost alone”