Enugu state government has taken concrete steps to create more
satellite towns in the state so as to decongest the state capital and
bring development closer to rural areas.
To this end, the State Executive Council has approved the re-awarding
of the contract for construction and completion of the vital New
Market-Milliken Hill -Ngwo -Ninth Mile Corner Road, Enugu to two new
contractors. It had earlier in 2013 been contracted to CGC Nigeria
Limited.
While this facility on completion would open up and activate more
economic activities along that axis, the council’s decision to also
approve the construction work and installation of traffic solar street
light at Mgbowo Junction in Awgu, along the Enugu- Port Harcourt
expressway is also aimed at creating a viable satellite town within
that area.
According to the state commissioner for information, Dr. Godwin
Udeuhele, who briefed newsmen after the council’s meeting presided
over by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, completion of the Milliken Hill
Road would cost over N1.8bn just as the Mgbowo project is billed to
consume N357.844m.
Explaining the new decisions of the State Executive Council, the
commissioner stated that the New Market-Milliken Hill -Ngwo -Ninth
Mile Corner Road, Enugu was earlier contracted to CGC Nigeria Limited
but would now be shared between Amitec Construction and Development
Ltd and Servrrio Global Ltd at the total cost of One billion, eight
hundred and
forty-two million, one hundred and four thousand, eight hundred and
thirty-five naira ninety-seven kobo for quick completion of the
project.
“Decades ago, this road was built by the colonial masters but it has
for years now remained in a deplorable condition prompting the
immediate past administration to begin its rehabilitation since the
road serves as a vital link from Enugu urban to 9th Mile Corner axis”,
the commissioner
noted.
He pointed out that the decisions to rehabilitate the Milliken Hill
Road and enliven the Mgbowo Junction popularly called Aki na Ukwa
Junction by installing the solar lights there are in line with
Governor Ugwuanyi’s vision of decongesting the Enugu metropolis.
Explaining decision to re-award the road project to new firms approved
by the council, Dr. Udeuhele stated that the job was awarded to the
former contractor on 6th November, 2013 at the cost of two billion,
four hundred and seventy-five million, four hundred and fifty-seven
thousand, three hundred and fourteen naira, thirty-three kobo, during
which the said contractor was mobilized with the sum of seven hundred
and forty-two million, six hundred and thirty seven thousand, one
hundred and ninety-four naira, thirty kobo.
However, he said “regrettably by November 2014 that
contractor abandoned the site,” necessitating the
present administration of Governor Ugwuanyi to invite the
contractor for a meeting on 25th April, 2017 where the contractor
asked for a variation of over N2.7 billion naira.
The government, however, decided to award the contract to the two new
contractors at the same amount for which it was awarded in the 2013.
On the contract for upgrading Mgbowo to a satellite town, Dr. Udeuhele
told journalists that Exco approved the construction
work and installation of the traffic solar street light to Bambo Nigeria
Ltd.
He further stated that the decisions were also taken
based on the current administration’s zeal in decongesting Enugu
metropolis, adding that Mgbowo is one of the proposed satellite towns.
The commissioner also stated that the Executive Council
approved to allocate the land behind the Nigeria Police Station (MTD)
Akwuke/Gariki, Enugu, measuring 7.655 hectares originally granted to
Trans Globin Nigeria Ltd for the purpose of the monorail projects to
Enugu State Housing Development Cooperation for the purpose of
development of a medium density housing estate for the people.
He further told the press that the council approved the rehabilitation
of the pavements at Okpara Square Parade ground along with other
auxiliary works at the total cost of N148,111,530,00 to Comog Steel
and Construction Company Limited.
He stated that “the execution of this project will save
Enugu state government a lot of money as further delay will lead to
total failure of the pavements thereby requiring an overall
reconstruction which will cost much more” he said.
Dr. Udeuhele also said that the meeting approved that the Hotel
Presidential pool area be used as an event centre and directed the
Ministry of Environment to clear the premises with immediate effect.
