Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State Government has approved the construction of 22km road in Isi Uzo Uzo Local Government Area of the state.
Commissioner for Works, Engr. Gerald Otiji, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Enugu.
The Commissioner said this was to bring dividends of democracy to the door steps of its citizens and to enhance security and boost economic and agricultural activities in the area.
Otiji said the 22km road , which is the phase one of the road project, will start from Agu-Mgbuji to Ogbete in Eha-Amufu, Isi Uzo Local Government Area.
According to him, the area has vast land that could be used for agriculture, adding that the construction of the road would open up the communities and take development to the grassroots.
He said that Governor Peter Mbah visited the area and saw a vast area of land that lacked access roads while the people there are predominantly farmers and agro workers.
Otiji disclosed that 300 military personnel had been deployed to Isi-Uzo Local Government Area while their barracks is under construction and will be ready soon.
“The army will build barracks there to give confidence to the people, make them come back home and thrive in their agro business.
“Our own part is to make sure that we provide them with good road that will enable the military and the people to carry their equipment and agro produce in and out from the area,” Otiji said.
He added that the road was expected to be wide enough to contain two two military vehicles at a time.
“In the long run, it will be dualised and increased to 37km and this will be done within the next six months,” Otiji said.
Fielding question from newsmen, on the 20 days ultimatum given to contractors to complete the road projects in some parts of the state, Engr. Otiji said they complied with the directive.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Professor Sam Ugwu, said the approval for the road construction, will help tackle the issues of insecurity and boost economic activities in the area.
Prof. Ugwu, said the approval of the road was a response from the State Government on the prevailing security challenges in the area.
He said the insecurity was more along the boundaries with Benue and Ebonyi states.
“On these boundaries, we experience a lot of communal clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
“Last year, we lost a lot of lives within the Local Government Area as a result of the crisis.
“Enugu State Government in its magnanimity has responded positively to ensure that the ugly incident comes to end,” Ugwu said.
He said the people were happy that the Government has remembered them after 48 years, adding that the state Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, was determined to make life easy for the people.
