From Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State Executive Council (EXCO) has warned against misinformation in the N208m power project to restore power supply to Afikpo, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state to end the 16 years darkness in the ancient city and its environs.

The government threatened to sanction anyone making erroneous claims that the money for the project was not utilized which is heating up the state and threatening its peace and tranquility.

There has been allegation in the social media that the N208m was embezzled without the power project properly completed.

But the government said the electricity project has been satisfactorily completed and awaiting connection to the National Grid after the completion of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TRCN) Power Sub-Station in Amasiri in the southern part of the state.

The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor disclosed this to newsmen at a press briefing on the outcome of the state Executive Council meeting on Tuesday.

 He noted that the state government has extracted commitment that the Amasiri power Sub-Station job would be completed before the end of this year.

“The  state Executive Council took time to analyse the social media ripples that emanated from the Afikpo Light Project as well as issues surrounding it, and after an intense and exhaustive deliberation, the Council resolved to inform the general public that the job leading to the restoration of light in Afikpo, contrary to erroneous information being peddled in some sections of the media, has been satisfactorily completed, only awaiting connection to the National Grid after the completion of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Power Sub-Station, Amasiri, from which the State Government has extracted commitment that the job would be completed before the end of the year.

“It may interest the general public to know that as part of its negotiation with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the State Government has approved payment for the diversion of the high-tension poles affected by the dualization of Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Trans-Sahara Express Way.

“The Council however cautions those who are misinforming the general public without verifiable information to desist from such to ensure that peace continues to exist and for further development to thrive in the area, or be ready to face the wrath of the law,” Okpor said.

The Commissioner said the council approved the dualization of popular Water Works Road in the capital city in its ongoing effort to return the city to its original master plan.

“In furtherance of the State Government’s ongoing effort to return the capital city to its original master plan, EXCO approved the dualization of the popular Water Works Road, which is from the Union Bank Junction through Obvudechi.

“The 39.5 km dual carriageway which is of two (2) phases, 19.750km each, received EXCO’s nod with a directive to the Council for Public Procurement to advertise the job”, he stated.

On health, he said “to broaden the capacity of the Nwofe Comprehensive Health Centre, Izzi, and to ensure that the facility renders effective and efficient health services to the teeming citizens within the environs, EXCO approved the upgrading of the said Health Centre to a General Hospital” he stated.