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INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC LIGHT IN NSUKKA: ITS SIGNIFICANCE AND THE BIRTH OF A NEW CITY IN ENUGU

Published

4 years ago

September 27, 2020

By Jeff Ejiofor

Nsukka is the host community to the first indigenous university in Nigeria, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), founded in 1955 and officially opened in 1960. The town, apart from playing such a historic role in the academic world, also prides itself as the administrative headquarters of what is known today as Enugu North Senatorial Zone in Nigeria’s political structure. It is a town blessed with clement weather, the best, east of the Niger, and one of the most friendly in Nigeria.

In addition to its mild weather condition, Nsukka has a serene environment, adorned with beautiful green vegetation and fascinating hills. In short, the town is an epitome of beauty and serenity akin to what obtains in Europe and parts of Australia. These formed the basis of attraction, that influenced its choice as a permanent abode for the great Zik of Africa, Rt. Hon. Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe who lived there all through his life.

However, despite all these natural features and sterling qualities bestowed on the town by creation, successive administrations in Enugu State treated it with ignominy and found no compelling urge even in the midst of many, to enhance its development. Little or no attention was paid to the town and its environs, hence, it looked like a glorified village. This is a town with great tourist potentials and economic opportunities of immense magnitude.

The special specie of yellow pepper known as Nsukka pepper (OSE NSUKKA) and a local seasoning known as okpei Nsukka are among the distinct economic potentials of the town beckoning on investors for maximum exploitation, but government after government in Enugu state continued to pay lip service to it. The huge socio-economic potential of the town untapped could best be likened to, and described as a wasted opportunity of a sleeping giant, before the timely arrival of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi as the executive governor of Enugu state.

Expectedly, and as a leader with eyes on rural development, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi dramatically changed the narratives within a short while and Nsukka has gained its rightful place in the scheme of things as the second-largest city in Enugu state and one of the fastest-growing in Nigeria. He quickly swung into action on arrival by addressing the agelong decayed and abandoned infrastructure in the town. He fixed 85 percent of its roads and above all, the perennial intractable electricity problem. He is, as well providing new facilities, such as secretariat annex, upgrading of existing health institutions, control of devastating erosion, provision of a modern stadium, and housing estates, to give the town a facelift. He is also taking the security of the place to the next level by providing modern facilities to the Nigerian Police and the state’s Neighborhood Watch.

In addition to the above feat which was initiated to bring the town at a developmental par with its contemporaries across the globe, the amiable governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuany conceived and is currently implementing the installation of the traffic light at strategic junctions and roundabouts in the city. By this singular action, the governor has taken care of multiple problems, which range from prevention of accidents as a result of unregulated reckless driving, to exposing of Nsukka residents to modern driving rules and regulation. Those ignorant folks seeking to know the importance of traffic light in a rising urban settlement like Nsukka should be reminded that nothing can be equaled to human lives that the policy will safe.

Undoubtedly, the use of traffic light will regulate reckless driving by motorists and reduce road accidents and deaths. It will certainly bring sanity to traffic activities in the city and organize it as a modern society. It will additionally inculcate traffic discipline and decorum in Nsukka residents and visitors alike.

Considering the many benefits accruable to this lofty project as enunciated above, the installation of the traffic light in Nsukka is one of the best things to happen in Nsukka recently as far as informed residents and road users are concerned. Now, the town enjoys modern facilities that can attract investors who are willing to take advantage of the opportunities abound in them. Ugwuanyi’s administration has successfully created another city in Enugu State which will, in no distant time flourish economically. The ESUT College of Medicine currently under construction in Udenu will provide the tertiary health care needs of the people and ameliorate their sufferings and stop their usual travel all the way to Enugu whenever they have major health needs. Sportsmen and women can now access modern facilities for their training and activities via the new Nsukka Township Stadium which is nearing completion.

The power problem promptly addressed by the purposeful leadership of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will definitely re-position the economic viability of the city and its environs, with the potentials of attracting a population of people seeking greener pastures from all walks of life. Enugu people as a matter of fact owe this administration overwhelming gratitude for raising another viable city in Nsukka to help decongest Enugu which has long been saturated as a result of its role as the only major city in the state. The one city status which Enugu State was hitherto known with has now become history as Enugu citizens currently have an alternative place in Nsukka where they can channel their developmental energy.

The doubting Thomases who, before now, though it was impossible to achieve this great feat, are now disappointed. But, it does not really matter whether they recognize and appreciate it or not, what matters most is that Nsukka has been elevated to the status of a mini-city by Gov. Ugwuanyi in line with his administration’s rural development drive.

While I commend him immensely for this remarkable achievement and other milestones recorded in transforming Enugu State by his avowed commitment, I implore him to continue moving ahead, as the unalloyed support of all well-meaning citizens of the state is intact.

Enugu is truly in the hands of God.

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Dikko And The New Vision Accountability and Development in Sports

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Felly Mammah N.

Since the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko assumed office on the 30th of October, 2024, he has systematically and deliberately been putting in place structures that would result to proper development of sports in Nigeria. Shortly after he was first appointed by President Bola Tinubu as a leading strength of sports, the Director General (DG), Hon. Bukola Olapade was appointed to compliment his efforts.

Many sports analysts believe that the duo of Dikko and Olapade who have been very visible in sports administration will be one of the best combination to take the sports sector to the next level. The DG no doubt, is the head of administration in the Commission, but it should be noted that the financial enablement to manage the affairs of staff and the political might that shops for the finance needed in the running of the sector rest on the Chairman who has the task of liaising with the President directly.

It is also, worthy to note that there is a huge difference between the administration of in the Civil Service as it is controlled by a Permanent Secretary and Directors while the administration of a Commission involves Board Members and experts whose voices and actions are also, game-changing; more so as Commissioners are likely going to take charge of the different zones to proffer solutions for a way forward. The defunct Ministry of Youths and Sports Development which later in 2023 metamorphosed into the Ministry of Sports Development on the assumption of President Bola Tinubu, produced a minister who was not versed in sports administration and as a result, faced mass criticism especially from men of the media.

These men of the pen profession are the torchlight of global sporting activity; they equally keep the history of both sports participation globally as well as the records of athletes’ performances. Their torchlight on past Minister’s and particularly the recent past, have revealed that most of the people who presided over sports administration do not really have any knowledge of the sector before their appointment.

The exit of the immediate past Minister, Sen. John Owan Enoh, refreshingly paved the way for change and this has brought in sports personnels that are expected to place sporting activities in the digital world. Suffice it to also, say that the new management of Sports Commission in parts of her changes is expected to sanitize athletes’ attitude and character for better reflection of children who have seen and communicated with their peers in the Western world.

However, the clarion call for President Tinubu to remove politics in sports may have changed the leadership of sports going by what many sports fans saw in the last outing of both Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, where a country like Nigeria did not measure up to her potentials.

Despite the poor performance of atheletes during the World Olympics Games, the past immediate past Minister deserves to be commended that during his tenure, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Games was reawakened as the participation of our Super Eagles brought back hope and jubilation to sports fans including the President and higher authorities. Yes whopping sum of N12 Billion was released two weeks to the Olympics Games and at a time the country was not financially stable. Despite the presidential financial support, the medals presented to the country were crisis and ignorant of both the atheletes, Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Atheletic Federaton to do the needful.

Therefore, it is heart-warming that the President harkened to the appeal of his fellow sports lovers to handpick a known figure in the sports arena to share his wealth of experience that gave him both a name in Sports and positions as the former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Chairman League Management Company (LMC), FIFA match Commissioner of significance, 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and presently, CAF Committee Member, in addition to his new portfolio as Chairman NSC.

My reference point here is that Alh. Dikko has been given the authority to effect positive change in sports sector, co-ordinate over 40 Sports Federations in the sector, welcome ideas of both sports stakeholders, individuals and veterans of sports that will enable him x-ray the reasons for poor performances in the sector and to chat a way forward for success story. There can never be a new testament without an old testament, thus the reason Alh. Dikko’s doors have remained opened to receive courtesy calls that included the visits by past administrators and foreigners who want to facilitate with whom the cap fits.

Still, in the mood of celebration to formally welcome Alh. Dikko to office was the peculiar power of sports which gathered momentum and the crowd for happy moments as seen in the recent novelty match organized by his friends, associates and sports veterans at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja recently. That gathering clearly announced not just a man who has made a name for himself at a height in global political decision making in sports circle, but a man who has also, given voice to our country’s leagues and international activities.

Sports is a significant sector that comprises emotion, tension, happiness, sadness even death and hope irrespective of the fact that it has the potential to feed many mouths. The sector cannot be compared to other Ministries with delayed bureaucracies and frustration of abilities. While in the civil service the head will rather submerge a growing talent for fear of power thrown, a coach who discovers a talent takes the credit for showcasing a star athelete discovered. Sports has been proven to generate revenue as well as attract public partnership which are all aimed at enhancing podium performance by the athletes.

Shehu Dikko’s business vision and wide participation in football contributed in making him the right candidate to place the sector in its expected level, increase the GDP of the country’s economy and equally be accountable with administrative roadmap for success.

The novelty match organised for him by his sports fans and League managers had the likes of Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Mutiu Adepoju, Dominic Iorfa, Ahmed Musa in attendance to share their joy with him as they displayed their talent with their foot.
Others that graced the occasion were Super Sports General Manager, Felix Nwogu, former and present Chairmen of House Committee on Sports, NFF President, NOC members and persons from across the globe. That singular act indicated a clear fact that Dikko can actually gather momentum with persons that can support his ideology to deliver as charged by the presidency.

However, the Chairman’s meekness to open his doors to all does not mean weakness neither does it mean that he has not commenced work officially. His work is more of brain tasking because ideas actually rule the world. I will boldly say that he has resumed work with like minds that will not only be on the same page with him but will as well be on success Guinness Book with him.

Felly Mammah N.
Press Officer (NSC).

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