'Nnamani has Delivered Democracy Dividends'
By Sheriff Balogun
Enugu, the coal city until a few years ago, was regarded as a civil service state, with very old and antiquated infrastructures, built by the colonial masters. A visit to the state secretariat gives visitors a glimpse of what has already been stated above.
Most of the buildings were constructed by the British colonial masters with burnt bricks and asbestos roofing sheets. The aesthetic value of the buildings gives a clear testimony of the quality of the materials used in the construction of the buildings, which today still make them as strong as when they were constructed.
Since Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani assumed office as the governor of Enugu State, the coal city skyline has witnessed a complete transformation from what it used to be in the past.
This much was attested to, by the state Commissioner for Works, Sir F.U.C. Ugwu, who said since Nnamani assumed office for the second term the state government has embarked on many projects such as the Ebeano 9th Mile by-pass which has all its drainage and culverts fully completed. He said "we are waiting for the rains to stop so that by December this year that road should be ready for asphalting". In the metropolis as well, Ugwu remarked that the state government was doing all it can to ensure that good roads are provided for the masses to improve the economic well-being of the populace. Such road projects like Ebeano 9th Mile by-pass, which is a link road between Independence layout and New haven, which starts from Nza street through the New Haven Primary School and also acts as a link road between Ogui road and Okpara Avenue, to decongest the usual chaotic traffic at Holy Ghost and Ogbete market through a tunnel is the first of its kind in Nigeria. Another bye-pass also being constructed, is called the 9th mile bye-pass which will pass through the Kingway road to coal camp.
He said the Lagos street road linking Ogui road to Independence layout is also on-going right now. Besides, he noted that the dualisation project of Chime Avenue in New Haven is on course, adding that the project would have been completed within the time frame given by the contractors, but due to the repairs going on the water pipes that were damaged when the contractors moved in to clear the avenue for construction work to commence in order to meet the two months targeted for its completion.
He said the road project was one of the best things that has happened to the people of the state since Nnamani became governor. Apart from the numerous projects going on other road projects Amori-Ogbaku road linking the Port Harcourt Expressway.
According to the works commissioner, the roads are very vital to the people because of their closeness to Ebeano city where the permanent site of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUTECH) is located. Expectedly, the influx of students from the South-south to the University the Amori-Ogbaku road, according to him, is expected to ease traffic congestion in Ozalla junction, as most vehicles will pass through this road straight to the university premises.
The road linking Isi Uzo local government and the state capital is also under construction and will pass through Ugwogo Ameke and this will help to link the road leading to the prestigious Protea hotel in Nike Enugu Metropolis to Ugwogo.
He hinted that another road which is currently receiving government attention is the seven kilometre road linking Owa-Umuawa in Nkanu East local government area.
When asked to comment on other forms of infrastrucral development in the state, Ugwu identified one of such projects which Nnamani was striving hard to accomplish to include the medical school sited at Parklane General Hospital which became a major concern for the governor, following re-occurring problems faced by students, who hardly graduate out expect where the University had facilities in place to ensure that qualified medical doctors are turnout.
He stated that the location of the medical school became important including the building of a state of the art medical school where people all over the world would come to learn under a congenial environment. On the pre-clinical students, the commissioner said they were expected to move into the hostels by October this year as the accreditation team was expected to come for inspection of the facilities as well as accreditation of the school. He explained that the library, pre-clinical building were almost ready for inspection. "We are also expanding the teaching hospital into parklane hospital so that a full fledged teaching hospital will be achieved and this will end by December. At Ebeano city, which covers about 600 hectares of land, these hectares of land were donated by four communities, Obe, Umeze, Agbani and Amori for sitting of the permanent site of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology. "Right now all hostel, Auditorium, Cafeteria, Faculty buildings, administrative building, medical centre, works department, senior staff bungalows and the Vice Chancellor's residence are all in advanced stages of construction, our target time is that the contractors would have pulled out by December 2005 so that the students and other people can move in by January 2006. When reminded that this administration was on its second tenure and with the enormous resources which the government, is putting into these projects, that there must be a reason for this gesture from the government the commissioner said the present administration was not seeking for any third tenure but rather a proof that Nnamani meant well for the state.
Enugu State became the first state in the country to have a full fledged ministry for poverty alleviation. The idea was to ensure that the dividends of democracy was enjoyed by all and sundry, irrespective of status or party affiliation.
"It was in recognition of the efforts of Nnamani that the British Development Agency (DFID) chose the state as partners and have cooperated in many projects in the state such as access to justice, school meal plus project, fire service project, community policing project and a host of other laudable projects."
Ugwu said the state government was making efforts to create an enabling environment where basic amenities would be felt across the state.
The major housing project going on now is the Judiciary housing project at Independence layout aside from the construction of an International Conference Centre in Enugu. This, according to the commissioner, will enable the state play host to many visitors to the state.
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