Enugu Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah has unveiled a world-class smart city called New Enugu City with information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and other modern facilities scheduled for flag off tomorrow, even as he assured the management of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) of support and partnership.

The governor, who disclosed this, Wednesday, when the NTA Zonal Director, Mrs Nwadi Elobuike, led members of the federal government-owned television station on a courtesy visit to him at the Government House, Enugu, further stressed that the administration was determined at rebranding the former capital of the old Eastern Nigeria and headquarters of the South-East zone through partnership with grassroots media outlets like NTA.

He said the government was committed to working with both development agencies and service providers to achieve the unprecedented economic agenda envisioned by the state such as the eradication of poverty, migrating the state from public sector to private sector driven economy with the target of achieving a $30 billion economy, creating wealth for the teeming youths and providing enabling environment for sound education.

“Partnership with an institution like yours will enhance our programmes in the state,” he added.

Governor Mbah further said the administration had started doing things differently as promised during electioneering campaign through its creative alternative financing model aimed at shoring up internally generated revenues that would enable the government achieve its plans for the people.

“We are not relying on the current revenue model which we inherited. We are harnessing our natural resources through our creative alternative financing model.

“We are migrating our operations to digital space to facilitate ease of doing business. In the Ministry of Lands, an application for Certificate of Occupancy would be approved within 72 hours. We’ve commenced e-ticketing in the transportation sector and in the area of water, we are deliberate in delivering water to the people within the 180 days we promised them,” Mbah noted.

The governor also disclosed that the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 81 roads would be flagged off on Thursday and work would commence immediately, saying the pilot scheme for the 260 smart schools across the state would be ready for use next week.

Speaking earlier, Mrs. Elobuike commended the governor for rolling out life-changing projects which the people had started enjoying.

“Barely a hundred days in office, has your vision for Enugu State begun to concretize into physical projects. The reality of your pipe-borne water agenda in particular, is an indication that yours is a people-oriented Government,” Nwadi stressed.

While recalling that the Enugu NTA was positioned to serve the people of the South East zone as a federal news agency, the Zonal Director appealed to the governor for intervention as the agency was facing series of challenges that had restricted its operational capacity.

“Our inability to transmit 24 hours has restricted us to less popular digital platforms. Help us, Your Excellency, to reposition and return NTA Enugu to its ‘second to none’ station for excellence status. Enugu is the soul and heart of the Igbo man and ought to keep leading the way in all facets of our national life,” she said.

Elobuike further added that the television station could no longer transmit a 24-hour operation due to logistics and power problems, saying the state could redeem the station from the challenges.

She called for support for the station on the area of solar power to enable the television migrate from the more expensive diesel-powered generator to a cost-effective renewable energy in order to operate seamlessly and effectively.

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