The Enugu State Government has approved the sum of N183bn for the construction of 141 roads across Enugu metropolis and 20 rural roads across the three senatorial zones of the state.
The government has also approved the award of 133 more smart schools in addition to the ongoing 127 smart schools to bring them to 260 or one smart school per political ward.
The approvals were disclosed at the end of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Peter Mbah at the Government House, Enugu, at the weekend.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the Exco meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the projects were in furtherance of Governor Peter Mbah’s determination to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn, achieve a zero per cent poverty headcount index as well as position Enugu State as the premier destination for business, investment, tourism, and for living in four to eight years.
“Recall that before now, the state’s total budget hovered around N100bn and N120bn with capital expenditure of about N30bn or capital expenditure to budget ratio of about 25 to 35 per cent.
“However, in keeping with Governor Mbah’s promise to de-risk investments, boost production, and run a lean and prudent government, the governor proposed an unprecedented N521.5bn 2024 budget with a capital expenditure totaling over N400bn, which is an equivalent of capital expenditure to budget ratio of about 80 per cent and recurrent expenditure ratio of about 20 per cent.
“Accordingly, the theme that we took away from Exco today is doubling down. The government is doubling down on infrastructure. If you recall, we started with 71 urban roads and 10 rural roads last year. Now, the governor and the Executive Council have also approved 141 urban roads and 20 rural roads.
“It is noteworthy that although the rural roads are 20 in number, compared to 141 in Enugu metropolis, they are actually more, nearly three times those approved for Enugu urban in terms of kilometres.
“This is part of the strategies to improve the quality of life in the rural communities and importantly to de-risk investments in agriculture. Outside security, which we are effectively dealing with, the big elephant in the room is to scale up the production and movement of produce from farmlands to the market. We also understand the need for processing, hence the heavy investments in road infrastructure,” Prof. Onyia stated.
Giving a breakdown of the roads, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji, said the roads covered in this phase included the dualisation of the 41.3km Abakpa Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road with bridges, dualisation of Penocks Junction - Nike Lake Road to T-Junction Flyover, Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara Road with two bridges, Umabi-Ehuhe Achi with a spur to Agbudu-Ihe-Owelli-Ogugu by Enugu-Port Harcourt old road, Nomeh-Oduma Road, Mburubu-Nkereffi Road, and Amodu-Akpugo Road.
Also approved were Iheaka-Ibagwa Road, Ibagwa-Itchi-Unadu-Alor Agu-Ibeje Road, Amagunze-Ihuokpara-Ugbawka Road with a bridge, Obeleagu Umana (Nkwo Ezeagu)-Omughu Umana-Aguobu-Umumba Road, Nara-Nkerefi Road with a bridge, Amagunze-Akpawfu Raod, Amagu-Attakwu-Akegbe Ugwu-Akpasha Road, Obinagu Udi-Isu Awa Road, and Nsukka-Ibagwa-Ogurute-Ette Road.
Others included Obuofia-Obeagu-Akegbe Ugwu Road, Obinofia-Ndiagu-Ugwuoba Road by Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Orie Engine-Aguobu-Umumba-Ebenebe Road to Anambra State border, Ituku Roads, Ozalla Roads, among others.
Otiji further explained that in selecting the 141 roads for construction and reconstruction, the government was deliberate in ensuring that all the zones, namely, Emene, Thinkers Corner, Abakpa, Trans Ekulu/New GRA/Old GRA, Awkunanaw (Achara Layout/Uwani/Gariki), Independence Layout, Ogui/Asata, and Coal Camp were covered.
Also briefing Government House correspondents, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu and the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aka Eze Aka, said the Executive Council was also briefed on the ongoing hi-tech security surveillance camera installations around the state and the planned turnaround and upgrade of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Meanwhile, pursuant to its agriculture and agro-industrialisation drive, the Mbah administration said it had built nearly 200,000 hectares in its Land Bank for agricultural purposes across its Produce Cities in the 17 LGAs of the state, which would now be boosted by the construction of the rural roads.
It has so far leased 15,000 hectares of land at Ikem Nkwo to Ugwu Anama Farms Enugu SPV Limited for the cultivation of crops; 2,000 hectares at Eha-Amufu to Atlantico Farms and Agro Concepts Limited for crops production and another 100 hectares for the establishment of an ultra-modern feed mill and poultry farm; 20,000 hectares to Sujimoto Group for cultivation of rice and development of agro-industrial processing park at Odenigbo, Eha-Amufu; and 7,221 hectares to Fungtai Company Limited for planting of economic trees, crop farming and establishment of agro-allied industrial parks at Ugwujoro, Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani LGA.
The administration has also concluded arrangements for the takeover of the management and development of the long moribund Songhai Farms Heneke in Ezeagu LGA by Britednuel Agro Limited and partners.
In 2023, the state government cultivated 1,000 hectares in Aninri, Nkanu East, and Uzo-Uwani LGAs to support the cassava to bioethanol value chain development initiative of the Federal Government, while the Biotechnology Industrial Park led by Federal Government/Enugu State and Biosource Technologies Ltd, a private partner, is under construction at Egede/Affa in Udi LGA.
The Enugu State Government has approved the sum of N183bn for the construction of 141 roads across Enugu metropolis and 20 rural roads across the three senatorial zones of the state.
The government has also approved the award of 133 more smart schools in addition to the ongoing 127 smart schools to bring them to 260 or one smart school per political ward.
The approvals were disclosed at the end of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Peter Mbah at the Government House, Enugu, at the weekend.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the Exco meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the projects were in furtherance of Governor Peter Mbah’s determination to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn, achieve a zero per cent poverty headcount index as well as position Enugu State as the premier destination for business, investment, tourism, and for living in four to eight years.
“Recall that before now, the state’s total budget hovered around N100bn and N120bn with capital expenditure of about N30bn or capital expenditure to budget ratio of about 25 to 35 per cent.
“However, in keeping with Governor Mbah’s promise to de-risk investments, boost production, and run a lean and prudent government, the governor proposed an unprecedented N521.5bn 2024 budget with a capital expenditure totaling over N400bn, which is an equivalent of capital expenditure to budget ratio of about 80 per cent and recurrent expenditure ratio of about 20 per cent.
“Accordingly, the theme that we took away from Exco today is doubling down. The government is doubling down on infrastructure. If you recall, we started with 71 urban roads and 10 rural roads last year. Now, the governor and the Executive Council have also approved 141 urban roads and 20 rural roads.
“It is noteworthy that although the rural roads are 20 in number, compared to 141 in Enugu metropolis, they are actually more, nearly three times those approved for Enugu urban in terms of kilometres.
“This is part of the strategies to improve the quality of life in the rural communities and importantly to de-risk investments in agriculture. Outside security, which we are effectively dealing with, the big elephant in the room is to scale up the production and movement of produce from farmlands to the market. We also understand the need for processing, hence the heavy investments in road infrastructure,” Prof. Onyia stated.
Giving a breakdown of the roads, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji, said the roads covered in this phase included the dualisation of the 41.3km Abakpa Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road with bridges, dualisation of Penocks Junction - Nike Lake Road to T-Junction Flyover, Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara Road with two bridges, Umabi-Ehuhe Achi with a spur to Agbudu-Ihe-Owelli-Ogugu by Enugu-Port Harcourt old road, Nomeh-Oduma Road, Mburubu-Nkereffi Road, and Amodu-Akpugo Road.
Also approved were Iheaka-Ibagwa Road, Ibagwa-Itchi-Unadu-Alor Agu-Ibeje Road, Amagunze-Ihuokpara-Ugbawka Road with a bridge, Obeleagu Umana (Nkwo Ezeagu)-Omughu Umana-Aguobu-Umumba Road, Nara-Nkerefi Road with a bridge, Amagunze-Akpawfu Raod, Amagu-Attakwu-Akegbe Ugwu-Akpasha Road, Obinagu Udi-Isu Awa Road, and Nsukka-Ibagwa-Ogurute-Ette Road.
Others included Obuofia-Obeagu-Akegbe Ugwu Road, Obinofia-Ndiagu-Ugwuoba Road by Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Orie Engine-Aguobu-Umumba-Ebenebe Road to Anambra State border, Ituku Roads, Ozalla Roads, among others.
Otiji further explained that in selecting the 141 roads for construction and reconstruction, the government was deliberate in ensuring that all the zones, namely, Emene, Thinkers Corner, Abakpa, Trans Ekulu/New GRA/Old GRA, Awkunanaw (Achara Layout/Uwani/Gariki), Independence Layout, Ogui/Asata, and Coal Camp were covered.
Also briefing Government House correspondents, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu and the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aka Eze Aka, said the Executive Council was also briefed on the ongoing hi-tech security surveillance camera installations around the state and the planned turnaround and upgrade of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Meanwhile, pursuant to its agriculture and agro-industrialisation drive, the Mbah administration said it had built nearly 200,000 hectares in its Land Bank for agricultural purposes across its Produce Cities in the 17 LGAs of the state, which would now be boosted by the construction of the rural roads.
It has so far leased 15,000 hectares of land at Ikem Nkwo to Ugwu Anama Farms Enugu SPV Limited for the cultivation of crops; 2,000 hectares at Eha-Amufu to Atlantico Farms and Agro Concepts Limited for crops production and another 100 hectares for the establishment of an ultra-modern feed mill and poultry farm; 20,000 hectares to Sujimoto Group for cultivation of rice and development of agro-industrial processing park at Odenigbo, Eha-Amufu; and 7,221 hectares to Fungtai Company Limited for planting of economic trees, crop farming and establishment of agro-allied industrial parks at Ugwujoro, Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani LGA.
The administration has also concluded arrangements for the takeover of the management and development of the long moribund Songhai Farms Heneke in Ezeagu LGA by Britednuel Agro Limited and partners.
In 2023, the state government cultivated 1,000 hectares in Aninri, Nkanu East, and Uzo-Uwani LGAs to support the cassava to bioethanol value chain development initiative of the Federal Government, while the Biotechnology Industrial Park led by Federal Government/Enugu State and Biosource Technologies Ltd, a private partner, is under construction at Egede/Affa in Udi LGA.
By Emmanuel Luper
70 views
Comments
Leave a Comment
Recent Comments
Good thing they are rising for what is right, kudos
Posted on Sep 04, 2024 at 03:57 PMNice one! Aka Eze Aka all the way🙌🏾
Posted on Sep 04, 2024 at 09:00 PMLovely.. AKA EZE AKA man of the people..
Posted on Sep 04, 2024 at 09:23 PMПолностью трендовые новинки модного мира. Актуальные события самых влиятельных подуимов. Модные дома, торговые марки, haute couture. Лучшее место для стильныех хайпбистов. https://chenews.ru/chepub/387-avariynye-derevya-novye-pravila-v-chelyabinske/
Posted on Sep 05, 2024 at 02:51 AMWhat's up to all, hhow is the whole thing, I think every one is getting more from this web site, and your views are nice in favor of new visitors. https://bandur-ART.Blogspot.com/2024/08/the-ultimate-guide-to-no-mans-sky-mods.html
Posted on Sep 05, 2024 at 10:25 PM<a href="https://1xbetin.com/">1xBet Review</a>
Posted on Sep 06, 2024 at 12:04 AMFantastic moves all hands should be on deck to deliver Ogalla
Posted on Sep 06, 2024 at 11:25 AMHello afriquecast.com administrator, You always provide clear explanations and step-by-step instructions.
Posted on Sep 06, 2024 at 10:00 PMThat's very good 😊 but I wished he gave his brothers and sisters scholarships and also sponsored many of his home town you. By now all academics will be talking of him and his awards.
Posted on Sep 06, 2024 at 11:12 PMhttps://khelraja-india.com/khelraja-login-and-registration/
Posted on Sep 07, 2024 at 07:59 AMGod is not a man that He should lie.He will surely continue to do new things in our lifetime. GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on Sep 07, 2024 at 10:35 AMGod is not a man that He should lie.He will surely continue to do new things in our lifetime. GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on Sep 07, 2024 at 10:36 AMTell him that game's village Awgu is a tourist center capable of generating huge internal revenue.
Posted on Sep 07, 2024 at 01:48 PMEthical Leadership Centre, Enugu recognising visionary leadership is certainly a milestone towards 'making excellence the norm'. Big thanks to Chief Ben Etiaba for his tireless effort to improve our society and it's pillars.
Posted on Sep 10, 2024 at 09:51 AMYes Rangers! Our darling team was the hope of everyone across the niger to get thrilled and be happy. Rangers was the binding wire that bound the faith of the IGBO MAN together. Because the Igbos does not believe in anybody, rather the Igbo-man believes in self and God. He believes in what he can do for himself and others. Otherwise, how could a people in a war situation be cut off from outside world, they were not getting relief materials from the world bodies, no ammunition and the rest, and things got most trying and difficult. But in such horrible state of life, the IGBO-MAN produce the great bomb fondly called (Ojukwu bucket or Ogbunigwe) that destroys and kills in multiple folds, produced fighter jets which they used during the war, the Igbo-man produced his own fuel both for aviation and automotive uses. The Igbo-man started live again after the war with just twenty pounds only and excelled beyond imagination. Rangers FC was a reincarnated spirit of Igbo-man, that of course was the reason Rangers took over the football sphere in Nigeria shortly after it was founded in early 70's. Well let me come back before I go adrift Rangers International FC. I appreciate my brother Chief Ben Etiaba "Ifennia" founder Ethical Leadership Center Enugu, for the good job he is doing , especially in fishing out our men and women of substance who has paid their dues in their different callings and honouring them duly. Finally, my Congratulations goes to Dr. Joseph Ugboaja the Chief Medical Director Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi for his milestone achievement so far at NAUTH. I also congratulate the young enterprising Director of Rangers management board chief Ugboaku for his visionary leadership and achievements. God bless you all, and let the flame keep burning!
Posted on Sep 10, 2024 at 05:25 PMPainful. Ijele colleague
Posted on Sep 13, 2024 at 02:03 PMHi this is somewat of off topic but I waas wanting to know iff blogs usse WYSIWYG editors orr iff you hazve too manually code with HTML. I'm starting a blog ssoon but have no coding expertise so I wanyed to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated! https://lvivforum.pp.ua/
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 01:12 AMМодные советы по выбору необычных луков на любой день. Статьи стилистов, события, все новые коллекции и шоу. https://vladtoday.ru/news/2024-09-10-10-prichin-za-chto-my-lyubim-demnu-gvasaliyu/
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 09:35 AMYou were hired by another community to come and fight for them, after which you got that land as compensation. And you think you will live in another man's land?Some of these Ebonyi people dont think straight
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 02:05 PMСтильные заметки по подбору модных видов на любой день. Мнения профессионалов, новости, все коллекции и шоу. https://vladtoday.ru/news/2024-09-10-10-prichin-za-chto-my-lyubim-demnu-gvasaliyu/
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 04:59 PMCan one person sell community land, accord to MrAlinta
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 10:17 PMCarry de go you are the man of universal love, The Lord choosing.one.
Posted on Sep 15, 2024 at 12:04 AMSimply wish to say your article iss as amazing. The clarity in your post is simply cool and i could assume you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to dazte with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work. https://Lvivforum.PP.Ua
Posted on Sep 16, 2024 at 07:45 AM