Follow Us on Google
•Gov. Mbah turns state to huge construction site, targeting 10,000km in 8 years
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Conversations in Enugu State were on the tribunal judgments for the various election petitions from the state and Governor Peter Mbah’s pledge to deliver public water in the greater part of Enugu, the state capital, within his first 180 days in office.
The governor’s target of growing the state’s economy from the $4.4 billion when he assumed office over four months ago to $30 billion in the next four to eight years also received some mention in some quarters, particularly as some people see it as ambitious.
However, the recent rollout of massive construction works and rehabilitation of roads across the state have dominated public discourse around the state lately.
Mbah has repeatedly said that his administration’s vision was to accelerate sustainable economic transformation powered by the private sector.
“My vision is to transition the state from public to private investment-led growth, which will eventually close our physical and social infrastructure gap, create hundreds of thousands of jobs for the people, and expand our economy towards the 30-billion-dollar growth trajectory that we know is achievable,” he explained.
For him, realising this benchmark will be dependent on the extent of infrastructure in place. It was in that light that the governor, on October 12, flagged off the construction and rehabilitation of numerous roads, including 71 roads within Enugu metropolis. He put at 400km the total length of roads construction/reconstruction to be carried out in the first phase.
Thus, on the same day, he announced the flag-off of the construction of 40km Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Neke-Ikem dual carriageway and 17km dual carriageway in addition to feeder roads and infrastructure within the proposed New Enugu City to decongest the Coal City as it is known today, which he said would rob shoulders with the best in the world, including Dubai and the like.
Though this move appears audacious, the governor underlined that he is driven by the administration’s determination to turn the state’s infrastructure deficit around within the shortest possible time and to bring joy to Enugu residents.
This has come as a great relief to many residents, who have over the years, endured torrid times driving on dilapidated roads within the metropolis.
The symbolic flag-off of the 71 Enugu urban road projects took place at Premier Layout Road, Enugu where the major road that has left the people in tears over the years has been awarded to IDC Construction Limited. There, the governor assured that the urban roads would be simultaneously executed and delivered before the end of December.
Mbah said: “These 71 roads as identified in the first phase will be completed between now and December. The funds for these roads have been secured. So, there is no reason the contactors will not complete these roads as and when due.
“We are not going to entertain any variation, any delay or time overrun because the funds will be provided and we will ensure that we put in place a close monitor to ensure not only that the standards we have agreed are met, but also that the timelines are met strictly.
“We are also providing the highest quality of roads. We are all making sure that the roads are well paved. You are not going to have open drainage so that you will have pedestrian parts well paved, you will have streetlights, and roads that will last us a long time.”
Flagging off the New Enugu City roads and infrastructure construction, the governor said his administration was determined to take Enugu to the front seat and make it the preferred destination for business, investment, tourism, and living.
“We have conceived a city that we believe marks the beginning of our journey to the position and consequential roles we want to play in the affairs of this continent.
“We are going to start with the first phase of about 26km2, which will be delivering in 24 months. This will warehouse three Islands, namely the Happy Island, the Vitality Bay, and the Innovation Park. All of these islands are designed with first class city features in mind.
“All the things that we experience when we travel to Dubai, Singapore, and other major cities in the world, is what we are about to bring to you here in Enugu State because we believe you deserve nothing but the best” he said.
At the site of the 40km Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Neke-Ikem dual carriageway, the governor said the new government was bent on constructing at least 10,000km of roads in the next eight years to open the space for investors and make life better for Enugu people.
“This 40km dual carriageway road is going to be a major gateway to the North Central and it is going to open up our rural areas.
“Recall that we said we are going to unlock our rural economy and the best way to do that is to ensure that we have access roads to our farmlands and we will also create special economic zones in our rural areas. But we are not thinking about agriculture as food only, but also as export commodities,” he stated.
Commissioner for Works in the State, Dr. Gerald Otiji, said the government would ensure that the highest standard in modern road construction is maintained in all the projects.
“Works will be going on simultaneously on all the roads. We have put in place monitoring and supervision strategies to ensure that we have the quality of roads we deserve.
“We are adopting zero tolerance to the bad quality roads that we have been having in our society and we give credit to His Excellency’s direction, his persistence that we will have everything of high standards. He assembled a high standard team and nothing less is expected from us.
“We want our people to be patient with the construction workers. There will be movement of heavy equipment, there will be a lot of digging and we need everyone’s understanding and cooperation,” Otiji said.
Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Emeka Onunze, who appreciated the governor for embarking on multiple road construction within the metropolis, said the governor had proved that he was a man of action rather than words.
He said that the roads when fully built would enhance economic activities within the metropolis and attract both local and foreign investors to the state.
“The governor has shown that tomorrow has come to stay in Enugu State. He has shown that he is not a man of many words. What is happening here today is unprecedented in the history of Enugu State.
“I am so happy as the Chairman of this Local Government. My people are happy. This government is for the people. We will continue to show our support and loyalty to this government,” Onunze said.
A leader in Umunevo Ogui Nike community and former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Emeka Edeh, also lauded the initiative and promised that the community would give maximum support to the contractors handling the project
He said: “This road is very symbolic because the flag-off was done here. This is the first time something like this is happening here. We will cooperate with the workers. We will provide whatever they need. We are all excited with what you have started doing for us.”
For the Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA, Obiora Obegu, the governor has kept to his election promise, including showing the affinity between the latter’s home town, Owo, and Isi-Uzo.
“I could recall what you said during the campaign season. You talked about infrastructure in Isi-Uzo. A lot of people in Isi-Uzo cried out over neglect, as the federal road was abandoned for years and Isi-Uzo looked like a landlocked area.
“You said on one of the occasions that Isi-Uzo people and Owo people are one people and brethren; that power coming to Owo was as good as power coming to Isi-Uzo. You said that you would be governor and father to all Ndi Enugu. You made a promise that you will open up the rural areas and today we are witnessing this come true,” Obegu said.
His counterpart in Nkanu East, who doubles as Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu State chapter, Sydney Edeh, pledged that the third-tier of government would give the governor all the support needed for him to succeed in office.
Edeh said: “We are thanking you in a special way. I am also thanking you on behalf of the ALGON, Enugu State, because you promised us that any local government that meets the requirement of 40 per cent of any contract for capital project to be executed by the council, the state will give 60 per cent in support. And we the Council Chairmen have taken this wonderful challenge and opportunity.
“So, not only that these roads are being flagged off today by the State government, but in the next few days, projects flag-offs will also be going on simultaneously in all the 17 local government areas in the state to benefit from the 60 per cent to counterpart funding to make life better for our people.”
Deputy Chairman, Nkanu East LGA, Ndubuisi Agbo, who is community leader in Ubahu, recalled the agonizing experience of his people over the deplorable road, which they had related to the governor in the past.
“We had once told you that there was a certain woman in labour, who had complications. But because there was no road, her husband carried her with a wheelbarrow, while a nurse was helping in holding the drip to get to Owo junction. On that day, you said you would do this road and that is what you have begun today as a governor.
“You have done it before for your people through the roads you constructed in Owo and the hospital you equally built all in your personal capacity,” Agbo stated.
Traditional ruler of Mbulu Owo, Igwe Godwin Okeke Arum, who spoke on behalf of the people of Owo, Ubahu, and Amankanu, waxed philosophical as he further captured the level of abandonment suffered by their people over the years.
“We were rejected, but God equally reserved us. God reserved us to develop Enugu State. I will not say much, Your Excellency, I know you because by the end of the next eight years, your successor will not see where to begin.
“To the glory of God, that road we were plying with bicycle from here to Obollo Afor is what they will be dualizing from today. Your Excellency, in 1998 till this period, it has always been a tug of war for the people of Amankanu to see vehicles that will ply their roads and convey them to the city. But today, you are making that possible, dualizing that same road with street lights up to the city. We thank you; we are proud of you,” he stated in an emotionally laden tone.
Meanwhile, the governor has engaged critical property/business owners operating opposite the Holy Ghost Market axis, to alert them on the numerous gains to be derived in constructing service-based modern bus terminals within the axis and the need for their temporal relocation.
According to Gov. Mbah, the designed terminal projects have already gone past the conceptualization stage, and would be set up strategically in Holy Ghost, Abakpa, Gariki and Nsukka metropolis, following its completion in less than 12 months at most.
Daily Sun gathered that their buy-in was necessary to mitigate any problems that may arise in the course of the projects.
