The Enugu State government has approved the award of contract worth over four hundred and eighty nine million naira only (N489,000,000) for the executive of some MDG projects in three local government council areas in the state.
The state commissioner for Information Mr. Chuks Ugwoke who disclosed this to government house correspondent’s during a press briefing at the end of the state Executive Council Meeting president over by the acting Governor of the state Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi said the three benefiting local government councils are Aninri, Igbo Etiti and Isi-Uzo.
Commissioner Ugwoke said that out of the entire amount, the sum of one hundred and forty seven million, three hundred and thirty one thousand, two hundred and eighty four naira (N147, 331,284) was for the execution of some forty-four water project in the three council areas.
According to him, the project will include construction of rain water harvesters, facilities and storage tanks in various location in the council areas as well as water boreholes and over head tanks.
The commissioner further stated that the remaining sum of three hundred and forty one million, eight hundred and eighty six thousand, one hundred and sixteen naira sixty -eight kobo (341,886,116.68) from the total sum was for the construction of civil works in eighty –one educational institutions and health centres in parts of the three local government areas already mentioned.
The state information boss told the press that the sum of forty eight million, one hundred and ninety five thousand naira (N48,195,000) was also approved by the council for the procurement of water treatment chemicals for the state water cooperation.
The commissioner who was accompanied by his Culture and Tourism Counterpart Ozo Joe Mamel and SPA MDG Mr. Okezi Nwanjoku enumerated items to be procured as 180 tons of alum, 240 tons of lime, 120 drums of H.T.H Mr.
Ugwoke said that the items would be used to purify the raw water from Ajalli water scheme before it is pumped for consumption by the people. He explained that the council also approved the payment of the sum of three hundred million (300,000,000) to the state community and social development project (CSDP) as its counterpart contribution in the world Bank assisted CSDP in partnership with the state and federal government for the 2010-2012 project period.
The commissioner explained that a total of eighty different project under the programme which cut across different sectors in education, water, electricity, health and roads had already been completed and commissioned while 40 projects are ninety five percent completed.
The commissioner noted that with the payment of the said counterpart fund by the state government those additional 300 projects in 120 communities will be executed, in parts of the state.
The commissioner added that the council at the meeting approved a draft bill for a law to establish the state Bureau of statistics for the purpose of collecting, completion, analysis, storage and dissemination of statistical information. He noted that the bill would be forwarded to the Enugu State House of Assembly for consideration and possible passage into law.
The information commissioner said the council used the occasion to invite both residents, friends and the people of the state to the forth coming state cultural and Tourism fiesta which begins next week. He disclosed that the annual event which attracted sponsorship from both public and private bodies as well as Enugu State and 17 local government councils in the State will cost about one hundred million naira (100,000,000).
He added that events involved in the fiesta included food fair, children’s and teen’s party, street carnival masquerade and wrestling among others.
