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Property, Business owners and Tenants affected by the Enugu state Government ‘s proposed modern transport interchange( Central Bus station )at Market Road, Enugu, popularly known as Holy Ghost, confirmed they have started receiving compensations as pledged by the Enugu State Government, saying the proposed modern bus terminal would change the state and improve its economy.
A critical stakeholder at Holy Ghost and Managing Director of A.C Decanal Company Ltd, Mrs. Ngozi Nnamani, and some other stakeholders confirm receipt of compensation on Tuesday.
Fielding questions from newsmen at her Holy Ghost business premise, Mrs. Nnamani lauded the Central Bus station project initiative and pledged stakeholders’ support for not only the project and for Governor Mbah’s government.
Pix: Commissioner for Transport,Dr. Obi Ozo
She said the state Government consulted them and intimated them about the project.
“Yes, he consulted us about this project. We were not exactly happy about this initially, but now we have seen that the project is a good one. If he will do it exactly the way he said it; that is to finish the project in the next one year and reinstate us back here, that will be lovely.
“He promised to compensate us, and some of us have started receiving the compensation. There is a temporary site he promised to give us in the meantime for anyone interested in that. We are told that it’s around the New Market area.
Pix- Mrs Ezinne Nnamani, MD
“During the campaign, we fought to make sure that a businessman like us won, and we are glad he won. We support the project fully. Once he keeps his word, we are happy. I am seeing a change coming into Enugu State, we may feel a bit bad now because of this, but I know that when the project is done, all of us will be happy,” she said
A business woman , Favour Okorocha said the initiative would help in addressing crimes and traffic congestion at Holy Ghost.
Pix- Favour Okorocha
“I think it’s a very good idea. Everywhere will be organised. Also, if you come around here from 6pm, people are scared to pass here. They will try to hide their bags and their phones because of what is going on around here. So, I think it will play very good role in security,” she said.
Nnenna Nwafor, Fred Ojini, Obum Nwannem thanked Governor aMbah for the good works he is doing in the state. They however, appealed to the state government to give them little time, few months to get a place as the place allocated to them will not accommodate all of them
Pix: Obum Nwannem
In a separate interview, the Commissioner for Transportation, Enugu State, Dr. Obi Ozor, said that Governor Mbah Administration had in the past 8 Months, held extensive dialogue with the stakeholders on how to bring about an affordable, efficient transportation system, including road networks and building both bus and truck terminals. He explained that the government was on the same page with affected tenants, business and property owners at Holy Ghost and had equally served them notice since October 13, 2023.
Dr. Ozor said the state government will build two terminals both for trucks, which are logistics terminals and for buses ,which are bus terminals .
He said Holy Ghost accommodates 41% of all the metro vehicular passenger traffics in the state. “What that means is that out of almost one out of two vehicles that are either going out of Enugu or coming inside, passes this place , as you can see today, it’s a mess
Pix: Nnenna Nwafor trader
“For over 3 decades this place has remained like this. So,the Governor has dialogued with the stakeholders , especially business owners here, and we all had agreed that something needs to be done and the government is ready to intervene,to help these businesses to help the over 7million ndi Enugu. That is what we are here for .
“We have had about ,more than three town hall meetings , where we had over 120 of the business people here in the ministry of transport. The Governor had also had two town halls with key major tenants here ,so in terms of understanding the mission and the project, people understand it. Of course you know that some of the people you are seeing around here are not the legal.temants of Nigeria Railway who are owners of these properties. We have also had conversations from railway, their team and even the minister of transportation who also visited the state in the 9th of March, so conversations had been ongoing .
Pix: Dr. Obi Ozor
Throwing more light on the landmark project, Ozor said,, “So, this is a dual terminal. One, is for vehicles that are going out of Enugu State. One is for vehicles that are running within the state. So, if somebody is traveling to the airport and you are coming from Gariki, the vehicle brings you to terminal one. And then from terminal one, you enter the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) that will drop you off at the airport. When you are coming back, it brings you back to this terminal and you enter the vehicles that takes you to Abakpa. So, it is two terminals and each of the terminals can accommodate over 1,400 vehicles. It has different routes for the different locations. Gariki is a route.”
He said that the government was constructing the Central Station, Holy Ghost, simultaneously alongside the Gariki Central Station, Abakpa Central Station, and Nsukka Central Station, while those of 9th Mile and other critical areas would be coming up in the second phase..
The Commissioner said Business owners will come back( Right of first refusal).” The facility will be world class”, he said.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama