By Jasmine Okogeri
Clarifications have been made on a few burning issues in Ebonyi State especially on Power and Energy. This was contained in a Press Statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ebonyi State, Hon Jude Chikadibia Okpor, after the State Executive Council Meeting.
- POWER AND ENERGY
Afikpo Light Project:
The State Executive Council took time to analyse the social media ripples that emanated from the Afikpo Light Project as well as issues surrounding it, and after an intense and exhaustive deliberation, the Council resolved to inform the general public that the job leading to the restoration of light in Afikpo, contrary to erroneous information being peddled in some sections of the media, has been satisfactorily completed, only awaiting connection to the National Grid after the completion of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Power Sub-Station, Amasiri, from which the State Government has extracted commitment that the job would be completed before the end of the year.
It may interest the general public to know that as part of its negotiation with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the State Government has approved payment for the diversion of the high-tension poles affected by the dualization of Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Trans-Sahara Express Way.
The Council however cautions those who are misinforming the general public without verifiable information to desist from such to ensure that peace continues to exist and for further development to thrive in the area, or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
2.TERTIARY EDUCATION
Scholarship
On the beneficiaries of foreign scholarship who applied for courses with less or no foundational relevance to the needs of the state, the council approved that such candidates be redirected to courses that are related to their basic courses of study or discipline to ensure they become useful to themselves and the state at graduation.
The Council also directed the State Scholarship Board to expedite action in this regard to ensure that the academic calendar of the beneficiaries is not affected.
- WORKS
Dualization of Water Works Road
In furtherance of the State Government’s ongoing effort to return the capital city to its original master plan, EXCO approved the dualization of the popular Water Works Road, which is from the Union Bank Junction through Obvudechi.
The 39.5 km dual carriageway which is of two (2) phases, 19.750km each, received EXCO’s nod with a directive to the Council for Public Procurement to advertise the job.
- HEALTH
To broaden the capacity of the Nwofe Comprehensive Health Centre, Izzi, and to ensure that the facility renders effective and efficient health services to the teeming citizens within the environs, EXCO approved the upgrading of the said Health Centre to a General Hospital. - SWEARING-IN
The day’s council meeting ended with the swearing in of a newly appointed Special Assistant to the Governor on Iboko Rice Mill, Mr Ifeanyi Daniel Mbam.