Enugu State governor Dr. Peter Mbah, on Oct. 12, flagged off the construction of several road projects across the state, including a new city that will have modern amenities and infrastructure. The governor said the projects will enhance the economic development and social welfare of the state and its people.
The new city project, which sits on a 10,000 hectres of land off Enugu-Abakaliki Road and traverses Enugu East, Enugu North, Enugu South, and Nkanu West Local Government Areas (LGA), is being handled by China Communication Construction Company, CCCC. The governor said the project would rub shoulders with any great city in the world, stressing that “we will have a functional New Enugu City between now and the next 24 months.”
“We are here not only to witness the construction of a road, we are here to witness the construction of infrastructure. In this new city, we are going to have a dedicated power project, a central sewage system, high speed internet, and there is hardly anything you will find in any modern smart city that you will not find in this city”, he said.
He said the first phase of the project would cover 26 square kilometres comprising the Happy Island, the Vitality Bay, and the Innovation Park in line with the purposes the new city is to serve.
The governor also flagged off the construction/reconstruction of 71 urban roads in Enugu capital city at the Premier Layout road project awarded to IDC Construction Limited. He assured that the urban roads would be simultaneously executed and delivered before the end of December.
“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 contractors 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”, he stated.
The governor also flagged off the construction of the 40km Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu- Neke-Ikem dual carriageway that will serve as a major gateway to the North Central and open up the rural areas of the state. He said his administration was bent on constructing at least 10,000km of roads in the next eight years to unlock the rural economy and create special economic zones.
“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 said.
He put at 400km the total length of roads flagged off for construction in the first phase of his government’s quest to build 10,000km of roads.
Speaking at the events, the contractors, including the Deputy Managing Director of CCCC Nigeria, Henry Li, assured the government of first-rate projects and early competition.
“As the contractor entrusted with this significant undertaking, we recognise the responsibility that comes with it. We pledge our unwavering commitment to delivering the benchmark road on time and with the highest quality”, he stated.
Meanwhile, according to vanguardngr, which reported on this development, the overjoyed communities, who trooped out with their leaders, including traditional rulers, council chairmen, thanked the governor for the massive projects, promising to cooperate with both the government and contractors to ensure speedy and hitch-free completion of the projects.
“We are grateful to the governor for bringing these projects to our communities. We will cooperate with the government and the contractors to ensure speedy and hitch-free completion of the projects”, said Chief Okechukwu Nwankwo, a traditional ruler in Enugu East LGA.
