Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State inspected major infrastructure projects over the weekend, weeks before their official opening in May.
The projects include the 40-kilometre Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Umualor-Neke-Ikem dual carriageway, the 14.5km Amechi Idodo-Oruku-Amagunze Road, the New Enugu Smart City, and the Enugu International Hospital on Rangers Avenue. Mbah clocks three years as governor on 29th May.
These projects form part of his administration's plan to transform Enugu's economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, he said. The governor wants to position the state as a premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and living.
During the inspection tour, Mbah highlighted what the 40km road represents. "We are just 600 metres away from the main road to Obollo Afor," he told journalists. "This is a brand new gateway to the North. Our people can now travel to the North Central without going through 9th Mile or Opi Nsukka. In a few hours, you are in Abuja."
He said the infrastructure is far more than just a road. "It is a major gateway that connects our people to opportunities and connects communities to farmlands," Mbah said. "If you look at your left, you will see green, and if you look at your right, you will see green. But for us, what we see are opportunities and wealth because our people can now go into farming. They will no longer worry about evacuating their produce."
The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) is handling the 40km project under a strict deadline of end of May. Mbah praised their pace of work. "To do it within the strict timeframe, they had to deploy several streams of workforce and work day and night," he said. "We also have the provision for liquidated damages if there is a time overrun."
The governor said his administration has kept its own part of the bargain. "We have made sure funds are released to them promptly. In the next two or a few weeks, we will come back here to cut the ribbon and open this road for the opportunities to flow for the people of Enugu State and Nigerians," Mbah added.
He commended CCCC for quality work alongside speed. "CCCC is by far one of the 100 biggest construction companies in the world. They have their brand name to protect. We are happy with the quality of work they are doing," Mbah said.
The state government is also pursuing rural road expansion. Work continues on the 44.1km dualization of the Enugu-Ugwogo Nike-Opi Nsukka Road from both the Abakpa and Trans-Ekulu ends. The administration recently completed a 44.3km road from Ama-Eke-Oghe-Iwolo-Olo-Umulokpa and flagged off a 52.2km road from Lejja to Aku, Ukehe, Akpakume Nze, Egede, Affa, and Eke town.
At the completed Amechi Idodo-Oruku-Amagunze Road, Mbah said his administration will extend it to the Nkanu East Council Headquarters. He commended CCCC for work at the New Enugu Smart City, where the initial 6.5km primary dual carriageway has been completed, with secondary and tertiary roads under construction across the first 1,000 hectares of the 10,000-hectare site.
Official inauguration ceremonies for all projects are expected within weeks, with the 40km dual carriageway scheduled to be opened by end of May.
