By Tony Adibe
The Enugu State Government said it has approved the relocation of Agu-Owa and Ugbo-Lawrence slums in Enugu metropolis to enable the administration to develop the areas into modern dwellings in line with its urban renewal agenda.
The government also approved the development of relocation sites at Akpuoga Nike Estate to resettle the occupants of the slums, noting that each of the relocated families would get a two-bedroom flat and a Certificate-of-Occupancy to the property.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting presided over by Governor Peter Mbah during the weekend, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji, said, the Exco approved the urban renewal and relocation of urban slums, having identified 25 urban slums in the Enugu metropolis. “We are starting with two pilot schemes and will be relocating the residents and families of those two slums,” according to Otiji, who added: “The pilot scheme will start with Agu-Owa at Trans-Ekulu and Ugbo-Lawrence at Independence Layout.”
According to the commissioner, Exco also deliberated on facilities that will be in the relocation site which included paved roads, electricity, two-bedroom flat apartments, sports amenities, and other facilities. He noted that Smart School would be centered there and Certificates of Occupancy will be issued to the occupants and families that would be relocated. “So, nobody is going to be left behind,” he remarked.
“The two pilot schemes are Agu-Owa and Ugbo Lawrence, which will be relocated to Akpuoga Nike Estate. It’s an enclosed estate with security and all amenities. This pilot scheme is going to be a new model and we ask our brothers and sisters that live in those areas to cooperate with the government to get the full benefits of these well thought out plans,” he explained.
Also, the Commissioner for Trade, Investment, and Industry, Adaora Chukwu, announced the government’s approval for the development of a property in Abuja, which has been dormant and undeveloped for the past 10 years.
“Exco gave approval for a real estate development firm called Tout Moi Nigeria Limited, an indigenous real estate development company with a niche for luxury eco-friendly smart homes, to develop a piece of property that we have owned for the past 10 years in the Wuye District of Abuja. This is in line with the governor’s development agenda, which aims to optimise the value of unutilised moribund or unoperational assets. This will probably give the state a return on investment of about 300 per cent.
“The proposed development model is to build luxury housing units, a total of 43 housing units, which will include high-rise apartments, terrace buildings and semi-detached buildings. It is also going to include a club house, a recreational centre, which, apart from selling the housing units, will create additional revenue for the state government as well,” Chukwu said.
In a similar vein, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Lloyd Ekweremadu, informed that the Exco discussed the ongoing upgrade of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium where physical developments would be witnessed shortly as well as raising the Enugu Marathon 2025 to a truly international event.
“We had discussions about the 2025 marathon in Enugu State. The focus this time is to bring the marathon in line with international standards, working towards potentially getting it accredited by the World Athletics Federation and putting it on the annual calendar,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Chimaobi Okorie, updated newsmen on the digitalisation and digitisation of land management in the state, noting that the Enugu State Geographic Information Service (ENGIS) would be up very soon.
