Okutu Community people in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State have commended President Muhammadu Buhari administration for constructing the Nsukka-Idah road which connects the community to Kogi.
Chika Obetta, Special Assistant on Health Matters to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State gave the commendation on Wednesday in Nsukka when he led community members to inspect the on-going construction.
Obetta, who is from the community, said the 17-kilometer road was a Federal Government COVID-19 Stimulus Intervention Package being executed by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency.
“Okutu community will for ever remain grateful to President Buhari for putting the community among rural communities to benefit from the COVID-19 Stimulus Intervention Package.
“When completed, the road will boost socio-economic activities in the area as well as make it easier for motorists going to Abuja.
“Motorists going to Abuja using this Nsukka/Idah Road will arrive two hours earlier before those using Obollo-Afor/Makurdi Road because this Nsukka/Idah Road is shorter,’’ he said.
He also expressed appreciation to Ugwuanyi for attracting and facilitating the award of the contract for the road.
“When a delegation from Okutu community paid a courtesy visit to the governor two months ago, one of our requests was the construction of this Nsukka/Idah Road.
“The governor promised us the road would be done; we are happy now as work is on-going on the road,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Mr. Christopher Okeja, President-General of Okutu Town Union, thanked both the state and federal governments for the construction, adding that the road had been a nightmare to the community and to motorists.
Okeja pledged that the people of the community would continue to be law- abiding as well as support government’s programmes and policies.
“We are here today to see the on-going road construction as a way of expressing our happiness to government and to the contractor handling the project.
“The community is willing to assist where necessary to ensure the completion of the project before the rains set in because this road is very important to us,’’ he stressed.
Also speaking, Mr Sunday Nwangwu, the Chief Security Officer of the community, assured the construction company that the security of its workers and equipment were guaranteed as his men would adequately protect them.
“I will ensure that Okutu Community Vigilance Group will keep 24 hours surveillance on your workers and equipment,’’ he said.
Responding, Mr. Chinedu Ogidi, the Project Manager of the company handling the project thanked the community for the visit.
He said that the company was expected to deliver the road by May before rainy season starts.
The project manager expressed appreciation to Okutu people for being a peaceful community, noting that since the company started the project, nobody had molested any of its workers.
“The people of Okutu are peaceful; they have been cooperating with us; nobody has molested any of our workers and all our equipment are intact,’’ he said. (NAN)