The Enugu State Government has approved a fresh wave of major development projects covering road construction, housing, tourism and public infrastructure as part of its ongoing drive to accelerate economic growth across the state.
The approvals were granted during the State Executive Council meeting held over the weekend, with officials describing the projects as key steps toward the administration’s goal of expanding the state’s economy from four billion dollars to thirty billion dollars within eight years.
Speaking after the meeting, the Commissioners for Information and Communication, Culture and Tourism, Works and Infrastructure, Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Education and Health said the projects were carefully selected to improve infrastructure, create jobs, strengthen tourism and provide better living conditions for residents.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ben Osy Okoh, announced that the council approved the completion and upgrade of Wings C and D of the Enugu State Secretariat Complex in GRA, alongside the rehabilitation of Wings A and B, which are already in use.
He explained that while Wings A and B were completed and commissioned in 2015, the remaining sections of the secretariat have remained unfinished and have deteriorated over the years.
According to him, the project will completely transform the secretariat into a modern government complex with improved facilities while addressing structural and operational challenges identified in the older sections of the building.
The council also approved the construction of one thousand fully detached terrace housing units within the Enugu Smart City project. The development will include four bedroom and five bedroom homes supported by essential infrastructure.
Beyond that, the government will develop eighteen thousand mass housing units at Gateway Estate to reduce the housing shortage and make quality homes more accessible to residents. The estate will be fully equipped with roads, water supply, electricity and other public services.
As part of efforts to improve road connectivity, the Executive Council approved the immediate construction of the ten point five kilometre Igogoro, Amachara, Ikpamodo, Okpo and Amaada road.
The state also approved emergency intervention works to tackle flooding along the major road in Nsukka. The project includes the rehabilitation of damaged drainage systems, clearing blocked channels and constructing five adjoining streets to improve water flow and reduce the impact of flash floods.
Engr. Okoh added that the contract has been awarded to a reputable company capable of delivering the project efficiently.
To strengthen the Ministry of Works’ ability to handle maintenance and emergency interventions directly, the council also approved the procurement of more than thirty pieces of light equipment. The move is expected to reduce maintenance costs and improve the speed of response to infrastructure challenges across the state.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, announced that the government also approved several ambitious tourism projects designed to position Enugu as one of Nigeria’s leading leisure and ecotourism destinations.
Among the projects is the proposed Ovu Lake Golf Resort at Akpawfu in Nkanu East Local Government Area. The resort will feature an eighteen hole championship golf course, a luxury hotel with more than one hundred rooms, a six hundred seat conference centre, boat regatta facilities, landscaped gardens, clubhouses, children’s recreational areas, lawn tennis courts, basketball courts and several other world class attractions.
She also revealed plans to develop the Attakwu Tourism Project into a major ecotourism destination by preserving its untouched forest and natural lake while introducing an animal sanctuary and other environmentally friendly attractions.
The Akwuke Tourism Project will equally be transformed into a modern leisure centre with a sand beach, theme park, water park, scenic boardwalk and recreational facilities designed to attract families, tourists and investors.
Another major attraction approved by the Executive Council is the Okpatu to Awhum Cable Car Project, which the government describes as one of its flagship tourism initiatives.
According to Dame Madueke, the cable car will begin from Okpatu Hill, home to the famous Cross of Hope, and stretch approximately five point three two kilometres to the Awhum Waterfall.
The system will operate through three stations located at the Cross of Hope, the Awhum Monastery and the Awhum Waterfall. Visitors will also have access to additional attractions including a Rotunda, an Experience Centre and a Food Court.
She noted that the cable car will offer visitors a safer, more comfortable and scenic alternative to climbing the hills on foot while providing a memorable experience that is expected to boost tourism and economic activities in the state.
