Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Anambra State Government has carried out the handover of the premises of its defunct printing and Publishing Company, National Light, for the construction of a Neighborhood Leisure Park for recreational purposes.
Recall that the governor in 2023 announced the shutdown of the government-owned newspaper company having declared it moribund and economically unviable.
During the handover of the premises, Commissioner for Housing, Pauly Onyeka, said that the handover is to lend a boost to the resolve of the governor to give citizens a livable, prosperous, and smart mega city.
“The keyword here is livability. Recreation is very important and the Governor is doing this to improve the life expectancy of our people so that people can go after work, relax themselves, and be happy for it.”
“In Nigeria, people are just living for the sake of living but Mr. Governor says in Anambra, we must live meaningfully. We want to make this place something that will be worthwhile for the neighborhood.”
The Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Don Onyenji, said since the publishing company had ceased to exist by law, the government had resolved to convert the facility for a new purpose which would benefit the public.
“That is why the Executive Council approved the construction of a leisure park here. Anambra State generally is compact, stocked up with buildings and human population and people don’t even have a place to breathe, relax, or enjoy games as we have in developed societies.
“This is part of the disruptive change promised by Mr Governor. As you can see, work has started already. The contractor is on site to redefine this place according to approval but we are formally handing the place over to the contractor today.”
According to the commissioner, the resolve by Governor Soludo to transform the state is without repentance.”
“The contractor is an environmental beautification expert; we do not doubt that she is going to do good work here. We have references to what she had done already.”
The Managing Director, of Bludave Logistics Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Odera Kela Ikeoku, assured that the contracting firm which has already mobilised to the site, will deliver a job that its client would be proud of.
“I can assure you all that by the time we finish up, you will be happy with what you will see here.”
