By Ikeugonna Eleke
Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has made good his promise to finally close down the state owned newspaper company, National Light, and convert the premises to a recreational park
The governor had last year redeployed all members of staff of the newspaper outfit and closed it down for being redundant.
Making good his promise, the Anambra State Government on Thursday, February 15, handed over the premises to a contractor for the construction of a Neigbourhood Leisure Park for recreational purposes.
Commissioners for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr Don Onyenji; Housing, Hon. Pauly Onyeka and Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, Mr Ossy Onuko, were on ground to hand the premises to the contractors, Bludave Logistics Nigeria Limited.
The officials extolled Soludo’s decision to create a befitting recreational park for residents of the state in the premises.
The Commissioner for Housing, Hon Onyeka, whose ministry is supervising the project, said he would ensure that the state government and people of the state got value for every kobo spent on the project.
He said: ‘Our key role here is to make sure that the contract goes according to specifications, without shortcuts, cutting of corners.
‘We are to ensure proper supervision of this work to make sure that our architect, builders, engineers and all our other professionals, give the state what it bargains for, in this project.
‘The contract is to boost the resolve of the Professor Chukwuma Soludo-led Administration to give the citizens a livable, prosperous and smart mega city.
‘The keyword here is livability. Recreation is very important and Mr Governor is doing this to improve the life expectancy of our people so that people can go after work, relax themselves and be happy for it.’
Onyeka said the provision of the new housing policy in the state would be implemented to give other developers a perfect example of what was expected of them in terms of generating enough oxygen for the people.
‘With the damage climate change has done to the earth, tree planting and green area are compulsory requirements to generate enough oxygen for our people. In Nigeria, people are just living for the sake of living. But Mr Govenror says in Anambra, we must live meaningfully. We want to make this place something that will be worthwhile for the neighbourhood,’ Onyeka added.
The Managing Director, Bludave Logistics Nigeria Limited, Mrs Odera Kela Ikeoku, assured that the contracting firm which, she said, had already mobilized to site, would deliver a job which its client would be proud of.
‘I can assure you all that by the time we finish up, you will be happy with what you will see here,’ she said.
The project which is expected to be completed in six months, will have such facilities as children’s play park; basketball court; tennis court; sit out; among other facilities.
