By Ifeyinwa Ogwo
The work to convert the premises of defunct Anambra State Printing and Publishing Company (National Light) premises to a Neighbourhood Leisure Park has begun unabated.
The State Government in its bid to transform the state to a livable and green environment for the benefit of the inhabitants handed the project to Bludave Logistics Nigeria Limited.
The Leisure Park which is expected to be completed within six months will have a Children's play park, Basketball court, Tennis court, sit-out and other striking facilities.
Speaking during the Handover, the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji said that the park was a new design and purpose to beautify the defunct National Light which by law ceased to operate officially for the benefit of the public.
"Anambra Executive Council approved this place for the construction of a leisure park because the state is compacted and stocked up with buildings and population and the people do not have a place to relax and enjoy games as it is in other developed societies.
"This is part of Governor Soludo's assurance in transforming the state into a mega-smart city where people can come and relax, work, and live happily which will elongate our lives, and as you can see, the contractor has begun work in the site to redefine it according to the approval," he said.
On his part, the Commissioner for Housing, Barr. Pauly Onyeka emphasized that the Ministry would make sure that the construction goes according to the specifications required without shortcuts or cutting corners.
"Our job is to do proper supervision of the work and ensure that our architecture, Builders, Engineers, and other professionals give the state what it is looking for as far as this project is concerned.
"You cannot live in a place where you cannot entertain yourself or recreate. The mantra of the government which is to establish a livable, mega smart city is what we are putting here so that people can relax after work, therefore we are beautifying this place and making it worthwhile for the neighbourhood," he said.
He added that the new housing policy is for buildings to have space where trees or flowers can be planted to generate enough oxygen for the people.
The Managing Director, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Mr. Ossy Onuko hinted that Governor Soludo has promised to create leisure parks in all the 21 local government areas and urban centers in the state to make the state a livable, prosperous and mega smart city.
"There is a budget provision for the creation of leisure parks in all the local government areas this year. As for this project, we believe the contractor will do everything in her capacity to deliver the work on time as the contract stipulated and in a few months, we will come here to have our leisure."
The Managing Director of Bludave Logistics Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Odera Kela Ikeoku, the contractor handling the site promised that the project would be ready in six months.
"We are a developer of parks and we can assure you that by the time we finish, you will be satisfied with the project. We moved to the site last year and as you can see, we have started clearing it.
"This park will have a Children's play park, Basketball court, Tennis court, Sit-out, and other striking features," she said.
*Ifeyinwa is of the Ministry of Information, Awka*
