Enugu govt awards N3.2b developmental projects, goes tough on street beggars

Tribune Online
Enugu govt awards N3.2b developmental projects, goes tough on street beggars

FOLLOWING the nuisance often created by the activities of beggars in major streets of Enugu the Enugu State capital, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday ordered the State Ministry of Gender Affairs to relocate all beggars to the state’s Rehabilitation Centre at Emene, a suburb, for proper upkeep and medical attention.

The evacuation order which was reached at the state executive meeting held at Government House, Enugu, came after the State Commissioner of Gender Affairs Ministry, Princess Peace Nnaji told members of the state house of assembly that her Ministry would soon propose a bill prohibiting street begging in the state.

The State Commissioner of Information, Chidi Aroh, who disclosed this after the state executive council meeting told journalists that the beggars would be properly rehabilitated and taken back to the society as proper citizens.

Aroh also disclosed that the executive council also approved contracts for the execution of another set of development projects totalling over N3.2 billion, in keeping with the state government renewed vigour to provide massive infrastructure in the state.

It would be recalled that barely two weeks ago, the state government awarded contracts for urban and rural development projects totalling over N1.7 billion.

The Information Commissioner further said the Council, upon the request from the state’s Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP-2), approved the asphalting of 26.665km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene Ajima-Eziani road in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area at the sum of N1,090,631,422.12.

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Aroh added that the Council also considered and approved the request from RAMP-2 for asphalting of another inter-community link road, the Neke-Mbu-Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti road – a 22.443 km road that connects Isi-Uzo and Udenu Local Government Area – at the cost of N913,434,678.045.h

He explained that the Council graciously approved the two roads because of their importance in linking and providing access to multiple communities in line with the rural development policy of the Ugwuanyi administration.

Also approved by the Council was award of contract for the construction of the Nsukka Township Stadium (Phase One) at the sum of N996,426,670.80.

Aroh added that the Council equally approved remodeling and renovation of the Abuja Building, Government House, to ensure efficient administrative service delivery; construction of fence, pavement, surfacing, landscaping and beautification of the newly constructed State Customary Court of Appeal Headquarters, Independence Layout, Enugu and supply of 300 units of bicycles to complement the 260 vehicles as well as motorcycles purchased by the state government for security operations in the rural areas, all totaling over four hundred million naira (N400m).

He stated that the Council appraised the outstanding performance of Model Secondary School Nsukka, which emerged the 5th best school in public category in the country, at the recent Federal Government’s educational awards and “approved the institution of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s Award of Excellence to the best primary and secondary schools in the state.”

Aroh pointed out that award will be held annually, disclosing that the winners of the secondary school category, across the three senatorial districts of the state, for every year will each receive a brand new bus from the state government.

The commissioner further disclosed that the Council approved the immediate purchase of a brand new bus for the Model Secondary School Nsukka, in recognition of their outstanding performance” and the immediate promotion of the principal of the school, Mr. Obi Ezeugwuorie to Principal Special Grade Level 17, for providing the desired leadership.

He said the Council equally approved with immediate effect, the release of the result of the 2017/2018 confirmation and promotion examination in the state Civil Service.

According to him, the decision was to allow promotion of seven hundred and twenty-one (721) persons, representing 70.34 per cent of all the people who wrote these exams for confirmation on “level 2, level 3 and level 4.

Enugu govt awards N3.2b developmental projects, goes tough on street beggars
Tribune Online