Jubilations as Ugwuanyi Inaugurates Enugu Historic Miliken Hill Road…
There was jubilation in Enugu State yesterday as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi formally inaugurated the historic and undulating Miliken Hill road, Ngwo, in Udi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, which was reconstructed and modernised with street lights by his administration for the first time since it was constructed in 1909 during the colonial era.
The all-important three-kilometre Miliken Hill section of the road, is part of the 12-kilometre 9th Mile - Ekochin-Ngwo-Miliken Hill - New Market federal road, recently rehabilited by the state government, as an alternative route for travellers plying the Enugu - Onitsha expressway.
Inaugurating the road amid excitement from residents of the state and road users, Ugwuanyi stated that the project is a “great infrastructural asset and rich heritage of our coal city state”.
The governor also inaugurated other legacy projects in the rural areas such as the Ebonyi River Bridge in Ikem, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area (LGA) and Obollo Eke - Agala - Okpaligbo road in Udenu LGA in keeping with his administration’s grassroots development initiatives.
Describing the Miliken Hill road as “our natural roller coaster”, Ugwuanyi disclosed that “no road in our environment affords tourists and motorists the beautiful view of Enugu that this road offers”.
According to him, “I stand here today with joy in my heart, buoyed by the happy faces of Ndi Enugu, to inaugurate this reconstructed historic and legacy Miliken Hill road; a renowned tourist attraction whose history is consistent with coal discovery in our state in the early 20th century.
“The great excitement that greeted the reconstruction of this legacy road is therefore consequential and our gratitude, most profound, goes to God Almighty for affording us the means and commitment to deliver this project.”
Ugwuanyi, therefore, urged motorists to drive safely and with care. While inaugurating the other projects, Ugwuanyi noted that they were “in keeping with our policy to open up the rural areas and encourage the all round economic growth of the state.”
“We were also motivated by our resolve to alleviate the sufferings of our people and give them a new lease of life wherever they may be in the state”, the governor added.
Earlier in his remark, a leader of Ngwo community and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia expressed gratitude to Ugwuanyi for keeping faith with his promise to reconstruct and modernise the road with street lighting and other safety measures.
Onyia stated that the road was symbolic and very significant to the people of Ngwo, Enugu State and the entire Igbos”, saying that the governor has wiped out their tears for good.
He maintained that no government had reconstructed the road after it was built, appreciating the governor for his prompt intervention on the road. He equally reassured the governor of the People’s unflinching support for his re-election in 2019.