The Anambra State Government has approved contracts totaling N10.4 billion for critical projects including erosion and flood control, road construction, school rehabilitation, and driver retraining, alongside a new social reformation program

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Anambra State Development agenda received a significant boost as the state government awarded contracts totaling approximately N10.4 billion for various projects encompassing erosion reclamation, flood control, and other crucial infrastructural developments across the state.

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This announcement was made by the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, in a press statement released on Tuesday, following the 11th Anambra State Executive Council meeting held at the “Light House” in Awka on Monday.

Mefor detailed that beyond the infrastructure projects, the council also made key decisions on social reformation, reaffirming its intention to launch the “Anambra Rebirth Programme.”

This initiative is aimed at fostering behavioral change to restore traditional Igbo values of integrity and hard work, encapsulated by the proverb: “Aka aja aja na-ebute onu mmanụ mmanụ,” signifying that happiness and success are borne from hard work.

Additionally, the council approved the rehabilitation of more public schools that had previously received insufficient attention.

This move follows Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration’s success in clearing inherited counterpart financing arrears up to 2024, anticipating expected Federal Government counterpart contributions.

In the area of driver education and retraining, the state government plans to implement a program to train and retrain drivers across the state.

A significant aspect of this program will be to blacklist drivers who commit major traffic violations, aiming to enhance road safety.

According to the commissioner, the meeting also approved several contracts after reviewing memos presented by various ministries and agencies of the state government. The detailed breakdown of the approved contracts includes:

Nwafor Orizu College of Education Access Roads: N2,104,421,881.83 for construction, awarded to Mid-East Construction Company.
Umunze-Umuchu Bye-Pass and Erosion and Flood Control: N3,500,000,000.00 for erosion reclamation, flood control, and the construction of a 2.28 km road connecting St. Augustine Community Primary School, Rest Assured Hotel, Community High School, Umunze, and the Umuchu By-pass. This project was awarded to Saidi Nigeria Limited.
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Access Roads (Uli Campus): N2,653,275,980.74 for the construction of 3.9km of access roads, awarded to Anyi Supreme Industries Ltd.
Country Club at Ekwulobia Stadium Complex: N528,622,393.14 to complete ongoing construction, awarded to Crystal Dove Construction Company Ltd.
Nya Ranch Road Rehabilitation (Awka): N97,310,537.00 approved for the Anambra Road Maintenance Agency.
Specialist Hospital in Fegge, Onitsha South: N65,681,358.34 for additional works, awarded to Crystal Dove Construction Company Ltd.
Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency: N55,176,294.00 for the installation of road signs, rumble strips, flashing caution lights, and thermoplastic speed bumps at selected locations across the state, awarded to Vadakris Ltd.
Reconstruction and Renovation of Dilapidated Building Blocks at Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe (Lots 1, 2, and 3): A total of N718,681,767.01 approved for the following companies: Biggstruct Engineering Ltd – N263,783,725.00, Zonel Projects Ltd – N222,911,408.05, Euro Energy Resources – N208,511,232.62.

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These comprehensive approvals underscore the state government’s commitment to addressing critical environmental challenges, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering social development across Anambra.