Governor Chukwuma Soludo has started rehabilitating nine roads in the Okpoko slum in Ogbaru Local Government Area, close to the commercial metropolis of Onitsha, in order to fulfil his campaign pledge to rebuild the ghetto. The project will cost N9 billion.
The project, which has a 14.053-kilometer length, a reinforced concrete median, and sidewalks on both sides, has been approved by the state executive council.
After the state's weekly Executive Council Meeting, Commissioner for Information Paul Nwosu stated that the project would be finished in a year.
At the meeting, Soludo also committed to completing the abandoned Government House project in Awka for N6.088 billion within 18 months.
Since the state's founding in 1991, operations have been conducted out of a temporary Government House.
Nwosu claims that the council also gave the go-ahead for N241,439,316.20 to fully destil and dredge 62,034 cubic metres of Nwangene drainage, which had been a nightmare for Onitsha's drivers. Additionally, the project will be finished in three months.
Other projects approved by the EXCO include the dredging of Mmili John, which will cost N61,494,541.88, and the restoration of the failed carriage way and embankment at Mmili John part of Oba-Ojoto road.
Nwosu said: “The memo on the abandoned Government House and 25 other peripheral structures were presented by the Commissioner for Housing and considered by ANSEC and approved.
“Also endorsed for construction are gate houses, police posts, perimeter fence measuring 2.22 linear kilometers and other internal works such as drive ways, parking areas, walk ways, drainages,, water supplies, green area, etc, which will be completed at the cost of N1.317 billion and to be delivered in nine months.”
The Commissioner added that ANSEC frowned at the frequent cases of youth incursions into the lands of people who had appropriate government titles, warning that such a thing would no longer be tolerated.
“It came to the attention of ANSEC that some unscrupulous elements are selling parts of Mamu Forest Reserve. Government is poised to arrest and prosecute all those that are culpable in these unlawful land transactions.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mamu Forest Reserve is not for sale and any property developer or member of the public who allows himself/herself to be lured into purchasing parcel(s) of land will have himself to blame.”