Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Anambra State Government has mapped out fund totaling N6.088 billion for the completion of a government house abandoned for over thirty years ago, Ikengaonline reports.
The structure was acquired during the military regime and housed the then Anambra State College of Education, Awka, as a temporary government administrative office.
Before the advent of the College of Education, the premises was used as a works-yard (camp) of Lodijiana Road Construction Company, the company that constructed Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Express Way.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) gave the approval, stating that the project will be completed within eighteen months.
Also in the statement, the council approved the rehabilitation of 9 roads in Okpoko, a district in Onitsha, measuring 14.053 kilometers with dual carriage, reinforced concrete media and sidewalks on both sides.
It also approved and gave date for the full scale de-silting, dredging of 62,034 cubic metres of Nwangene drainage and dredging of Mmili John section of Oba-Ojoto road, respectively.
The statement read in part: “In fulfillment of Governor Soludo’s campaign promise to immediately commence the urban regeneration of Okpoko slum in Ogbaru Local Government Area, ANSEC approved the rehabilitation of 9 roads in Okpoko measuring 14.053 kilometers with dual carriage, reinforced concrete media and sidewalks on both sides. The roads will cost N4.9 billion and will be completed in 12 months.
“ANSEC also approved the full scale de-silting and dredging of 62,034 cubic metres of Nwangene drainage which has been a source of nightmare to road users. The project which will cost N241,439,316.29, is going to be completed in 3 months.
“The rehabilitation of the failed carriage way and embankment at Mmili John section of Oba-Ojoto road and the dredging of Mmili John was equally approved by ANSEC. The work will cost N61,494,541.88 and is expected to be completed in 6 weeks.
“The memo on the abandoned government house and 25 other peripheral structures was presented by the Commissioner for Housing and considered by ANSEC. The project which will cost N6.088 billion and completed within 18 months was approved by ANSEC.
“Also endorsed for construction are gate houses, police posts, perimeter fence measuring 2.22 linear kilometers and other internal works such as drive ways, parking areas, walk ways, drainages, water supplies, green area, etc. All of these will be complete at the cost of N1.317 billion and delivered in 9 months.
“To further improve the quality of health care delivery in the State, government through the Ministry of Health placed a vacancy advert two months ago for medical consultants and officers, pharmacists, nurses, radiographers, medical laboratory scientists and technicians.
“ANSEC directed the Commissioner for Health to interview the 4,400 applicants who applied for the jobs so that they would be immediately employed and deployed to our health care facilities.”
