The Enugu State government has awarded contracts for the construction of six major roads across the state at the sum of N2.4 billion, covering the Eha-Amufu-Nkalagu federal road at Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, which has been in a deplorable condition.
Other roads include; the extension of the Agbani-Afor Amurri road; the extension of Ituku road; the construction of Ogonogoeji Ndi Agu Akpugo
road , the construction of 42 metre span Bailey bridge and road works across river Nyama to Amechi-Linking Umuogo and Umuagba Amechi Uno/ Obinagu community, all in Nkanu West council.
The state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, recently inspected most of the road projects, where he promised the immediate intervention of his administration and reiterated the commitment to the development of the rural areas to give the dwellers a sense of belonging and make life more meaningful for them.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Greg Nnaji, explained that the council approved the splitting of the 8.8 km Eha-Amufu- Nkalagu road into lots 1 and 2, and awarding of the contracts to separate reputable contractors that will commence works simultaneously from the Nkalagu axis that borders Enugu and Ebonyi States and the Eha-Amufu College of Education section.
He said that the 8.8km road which will cost over N1.3billion, was divided into two lots “to ensure that the construction is fast tracked within the weather window available this year”.
On the Ogonogoeji Ndi Agu Akpugo road, the Commissioner expressed doubt if the people of the area, particularly their children who were born over 20 years ago had seen an asphalted road, adding that the state government’s intervention was significant and timely.
On the river crossing at Amechi Uno, he said that because of few problems encountered on the project in the past, the government has engaged the services of the 44 Engineer Brigade of the Nigerian Army, whose responsibility and engineering skill are needed to salvage the situation and deliver quality job within the next three months to serve the people of the area effectively.
He also announced that the council’s decision to rehabilitate and renovate the seven District hospitals in the state located in Agbani, Udi, Igbo Eze North, Isi-Uzo, Nsukka and Awgu was upheld, adding that approval was given for the immediate upgrade and renovation of Polly Clinic/Asata District Hospital, Enugu and Udi District Hospital, Udi Local Government Area.
“We are no longer talking about roads. We are looking into other public buildings and things that would impact positively on the lives of the people of our state”, the works commissioner said.