By Tony Adibe
The Commissioner for Transportation, Enugu State, Chief Obi Ozor has said that three more Modern Transport interchange would be built at strategic locations in addition to the first one sited within the popular Holy Ghost area of the Enugu metropolis.
Chief Ozor said that the proposed Enugu modern transport interchange being built at Holy Ghost is expected to be completed within 12 months, explaining that the other three bus terminals would be built at Garki, Abakpa and Nsukka.
“We hope that the work will commence this month. We have a total of four terminals, one each in Enugu, Abakpa, Gariki and Nsukka while phase two will involve places like 9th Mile,” said the Commissioner, who briefed newsmen at the Holy Ghost project site on Saturday.
NewsBits reports that the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration had successfully moved the occupants of the buildings, including different business ventures and banks, after huge compensations were reportedly paid to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), who are the bonafide owners of the land and who, thereafter, formerly and duly compensated the occupants of the place to vacate for the modern transport terminal.
NewsBits also reports that this is the first time a monumental demolition would be carried out by the state government without any form of protest be it peaceful or violent in the state.
Ozor explained that Enugu Central Station is a dual terminal that will focus on inter-state transportation for terminal 1, and intra-city transportation for terminal 2, adding that the essence of the terminals was to give the state a face-lift, create employment opportunities and reduce crime in the state.
Asked about government’s sincerity in the total execution and completion of the project, considering that previous administration made similar proposal but later aborted it, and in some cases, converted the project to other usage, which reportedly ended up in the hands of cronies, Ozor said that the present Governor Mbah-led administration was committed to full implementation of the social contract it made with the Enugu electorate who voted massively for him during the 2023 general elections .
“Therefore, the trust or sincerity of the government is never in doubt,” he remarked.
Ozor further spoke on the role the NRC and the Federal Ministry of Transportation in the smooth take-off of the project. He said: “The land here is owned by the Nigerian Railway Corporation and leased to 29 key legal tenants to the NRC on an average of 10 to 25 years leases.
“The Enugu State government has reached an agreement with the NRC and the Federal Ministry of Transportation to lease this place for the construction of the proposed terminal. We have paid compensation to all legal occupants except a few others who are yet to send their details to the government.
“We started this journey in September 2023 by engaging all the stakeholders. Then, notices were given on 13th of October 2023. We have now come in to clear the place for the commencement of the project.”
