From; Madu Ezenoha, Enugu
Enugu Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Patrick Ikpenwa has disclosed that the federal government is indebted to the state to the tune of N25.8 billion.
He said the money was the cost of various federal government road projects executed by the state.
He expressed hope that the state would be refunded to enable it do more for the state.
The Commissioner stated that the state government has expended more than N27 billion on intra-state, inter-state and interventions on federal roads in the state within the two years of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration in office.
Ikpenwa, stated this on Friday while briefing members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu state council.
Ikpenwa stated that the roads totalling 142 kilometres, include; Abakpa Nike road(3.69km), Nike Lake road (3.07km), 9th Mile Bypass (1.970km), Amankwo-Ameke-Amah Breweries (3.75km), Opi-Nsukka dualization (19.55km), and Udenu ring road (14.1km).
The commissooner stated that the state government intervened on some federal roads whwre major failed sections posed dangerous traps for the citizenry, including; Opi Junction-Obollo Afor, Echochin-9th Mile-Mechanic Village, Opi-Benue boundary, Egede Junction-Opi junction and Ugwuoba along Old Enugu Onitsha expressway.
He said that the state constructed more than five new bridges and rehabilitated more than six others.
According the commissioner, the state was able to achieve a lot despite being classified among States that receive low federal allocation, attributing the feat to the prudent financial management of the hivernor who he describef as a financial guru that aplies optimization of financial resources.
He noted that aside general urban renewal and environmental projects in Enugu and Nsukka the two major cities, the state government also embarked on execution of orojects worth N100 million in each of the 17 local government areas of the state under the code name “Operation Chose Your Project Initiative”.
The commissioner stated that the programme flagged off on October 15, 2016 saw the inauguration of 30 of such projects on May 24, 2017.
The projects, according to him include; rural roads, bridges, electricity, water and school buildings.
