The Enugu State Government has signed a Concession agreement with a Canadian Business firm, Globim Corporation, to finance, construct and operate a monorail transport system known as Enugu Monorail line in the State.
The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, who made this known while briefing the press at the end of the State Executive Council meeting, said that the new transport system is based on vehicles running on a single rail track without interfering with other road users.
According to him, the project,which will be executed under contractor financed, will provide very efficient and attractive transport system that will not crash with vehicles, never to run over people and above all, generate revenue for the state.
Chief Luke Mamelu and San Chukwuani, as well as Mr. Matthew Idu of Youths and Sports, disclosed that the transport system will cover all routes of the Coal City from Gariki to Achara Layout – Coal Camp – Ogbete – Abakpa Nike – Asata and Emene.
Shortly after signing the agreement, the Chairman of the company, Dr Jude Igwemezie, said his interest on the project was to appreciate the laudable achievements of Governor Chime in the state and his own contribution to government's determination to provide affordable, reliable and efficient transport system for residents and visitors in the state.
The Executive Council, he said, also approved the award of contract of additional work for the installation of water distribution pipe network to some parts of the state capital at a cost of over two billion naira to Channel Engineering Construction Company.
He said that the water pipe line network, which is on contractor finance basis, will cover Trans-Ekulu, Government Reserved Area (GRA), Abakpa Nike, Emene and Independence Layout. According to him, the company, which had been given approval to replace and extend water transmission mains, will in addition distribute water to individual homes in the state.
The Commissioner recalled that already, two companies, Suecon Groups of Companies and Sanshek Nigeria Limited had been given approval to extend water pipe lines to cover Ogui, Asata, Uwani and Idaw River as well as parts of GRA, Independence Layout and High pressure areas in the state.
Continuing, Mr. Ugwoke, said the council also approved the award of contract for the electrification of Imilike Agu community in Udenu local government area at a cost of over N35,801,852.
The contract, which will include 33KV distribution network and construction of higher/medium voltage lines and installation of transformers, is part of government's determination to meet the target of providing electricity to all communities in the state by 2011.
Also at the meeting chaired by the state Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, the council approved the establishment of State Medical Emergency Response Team (ESMERT) as a directorate in the Ministry of Health to be headed by a Director and other paramedical staff.
He revealed that for effective take off, the Emergency Response Team Government had purchased eight Advanced life support Ambulances and other seventeen support Ambulances for the seventeen local government areas of the state.
The information commissioner explained that the establishment of the Directorate became necessary to provide pre-hospital medicare to people living in or passing through the state, facilitate access to health care facilities by the critically ill or injured and assistance in disaster management among others.