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Enugu Govt. Partners Godfrey University on N1.5b Road Project
The road infrastructural development in Enugu State has continued even this new year.
Enugu State Government which has always promised massive road construction works both in the rural and urban areas, Monday awarded contract for the construction of a 10-kilometer Emene-Nkwubor-Ugwuomu-Nike road in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at the cost of over N1.5 billion.
The road which leads to the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, according to the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting, was approved under “a special arrangement” with the University authority aimed at attracting development to its permanent site.
Engr. Nnaji explained that the university made a request to partner the state government to construct the road which was fundamental to its development. He said that “all the university needed from the government of Enugu State is a total of N500 million”, while the institution would source for the remaining funds through partnership with other agencies and donors.
The Works Commissioner added that the state government through its Ministry of Works and Infrastructure carried out the data base and construction design of the road in line with its “plan work based structure” to ensure quality control and assurance, among others.
Engr. Nnaji stated that “the EXCO found it very expedient to quickly approve the construction of this particular road and approved the university’s required fund of a total sum of N500m”, in line with the governor’s resolute passion to reach every nook and cranny of Enugu State to ensure a sustainable infrastructural development across the state.
“We will flag off this road and maintain due diligence in ensuring that the design and certification set out for this road is maintained and we will continue to pray and do our best to ensure that Enugu State remains in the hands of God”, Engr. Nnaji said.
The council also approved fund to assist the Transition Company of Nigeria (TCN) with the completion of the electrification project from New Haven Sub-Injection Sub-Station to Nsukka Injection Sub Station to enhance power supply in the area.
Equally approved by the council was the release of a commitment fee of 100,000 dollars as counterpart fund to enable the state benefit from the National Malaria Elimination programme of the World Bank.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin, explained that Enugu through the commitment stands the chance of receiving the funds for Malaria control and prevention in 2018 and beyond, among the 13 states selected by the World Bank.
According to him, “with this approval we are sure that we will make the nomination list because it is not all the 13 states selected that will actually have the funding”.
“So with this, Enugu State can go into active malaria control even in a more disciplined pattern with other Ministries, such as Environment and Works. This is because eradication of Malaria has to do with cleaning of drainages and distribution of mosquito nets. So the programme which we are looking forward to embarking on this all important programme approach to Malaria eradication and control”, Dr. Ekochin stated.
Also in the briefing, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ogbuagu Anikwe revealed that the governor advised the people of the state against indiscriminate bush and waste burnings especially in this period of harmattan to avoid loss of lives and property.
Mr. Anikwe equally stated that “a security alert has been re-enforced all over the state”, stressing that the governor enjoined the people of the state to be vigilant, security conscious and report to the security agencies any suspicious movements or acts by undesirable elements who commit violent crimes in the surrounding states and come to the state to stay, hide and enjoy their loots.
The information Commissioner added that the 13th month salary paid to civil servants of the state as Christmas bonus has been extended to parastatals, agencies and casual workers by the council, accordingly.
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
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