DURING his inaugural speech, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State listed urban renewal as one of his major programmes. Top on the priority list was opening up semi-rural towns of Nsukka,9th Mile Corner and Abakpa-Nike among others, to trigger socio-economic growth in the state.
To deliver on his promises, Ugwuanyi had to get the 2015 Appropriation Bill amended.
The Enugu State House of Assembly, last Tuesday, passed into law, the amended and revised appropriation bill of N9.878 billion presented to it by the governor.
Ugwuanyi
The bill tagged: Enugu State of Nigeria Amendment (revised) Appropriation Bill, 2015 as moved by the leader of the House, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, is to make way for internal re-allocation of resources in the existing budget of over N96.735 billion as passed by the previous administration of former Governor Sullivan Chime to enable the government embark on important development projects in the state.
Ugwuanyi, imbued with legislative trappings having served as a House of Representatives member representing Udenu/Igbo-Eze North Federal Constituency for 12 straight years, navigated through the murky waters of re-allocation of funds in the approved state budget which was the thrust of the moves to impeach Chime for alleged re-allocation of 2012 budget without House approval at the twilight of his tenure.
The need for the amendment arose following Ugwuanyis resolve to walk the talk by enunciating eight new projects that would have direct impact on the welfare of the people of Enugu State
According to the amended budget, allocations were adjusted to accommodate the eight new projects that were hitherto not included earlier.
New projects
The new projects are the construction of two kilometre Nike Road; construction of 3.6 kilometre Nike Lake Road; five kilometre Airport Roundabout/Orie Emene/Eke Obinagu Road; two kilometre Okutu/Odoru Road; 1.5 kilometre 9th Mile/Nsukka Road and 9th Mile/Onitsha Road By-pass; 10.8 kilometre m Opi/Nsukka Road; Installation of Street lights along Opi-Nsukka Road and construction/Rehabilitation of Nsukka Urban roads.
Amendment bill
Moving the motion for the adoption of the Bill for Amendment, House Leader, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, urged his colleagues to support the bill. He said that Governor Ugwuanyi had had an expanded meeting intimated stakeholders that there was need to make changes to the budget to reflect the present reality of the changing times.
Contributing to the debate on the bill, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Dons Uzogbado said the bill was timely and appropriate because the importance of embarking on the construction of the roads will engender even development in the state.
Uzogbado opined that when the 9th Mile bypass is completed, it would reduce the chaotic traffic witnessed at 9th Mile, Ngwo.
Elated residents
Part of the roads to be constructed include the 2-3 kilometre Penoks-NOWAS-Timbershed-Abakpa-Nike-Ugwuogo road and the 2-3 kilometre Abakpa Junction-T-Junction road which are major arteries to the metropolis.
Residents and motorists plying road get stuck in traffic for hours following the yawning craters dotting the road especially at the Abakpa, Liberty bus-stop,Texaco, Corner-stone and Timber shed sections of road all in Enugu-East Local Council.
If dualized, the road will enhance access to rural communities on the corridors of the road, which will stimulate economic activities and the man hours expended by motorists will be channelled into productive venture.
Work begins
Currently, work has started on Penoks-Nowas-Timbershed-T-junction axis of the road. Officials of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority,ECTDA,have pasted notices on walls and properties with a one-week ultimatum to the owners to remove such obstructions, preparatory for the commencement of construction work.
Mr. Amaechi Ukwuani, a resident in the area said:This roads are at the heart of our existence. If the governor constructs these road, he has done everything for Enugu people. Plying the road during traffic hours is horrendous.
There is part of Enugu metropolis that witnesses the type of traffic gridlock that we pass through here. The value of properties in this area has shrunk because developers do not have easy access to the area.
Once constructed, rural communities will easily be accessed because the Abakpa-Nike-Ugwuogu-Opi-Nsukka road has made movement to and fro Nsukka easy. The people cannot wait to see the construction commence.
