By ALEX ENEBELI

The Enugu State Government says the it will launch the Enugu Air, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, and the ultramodern transport terminals for operation before the administration?s second anniversary on May 29.

The state Commissioner for Transport, Dr Obi Ozor, disclosed this during the State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House, Enugu, on Sunday.

He said: ?We are starting off with the initial three aircraft and two of the aircraft are already on ground. The third one will be on ground by the end of this month.

?We are hoping to start the commercial operations before the second year anniversary of this administration.

?You have also seen CNG buses for the mass transit programme across the state. There are 50 of them already parked at the Okpara Square, and an additional 50 will be joining that fleet in the next few weeks?.

The Commissioner explained that 100 of the buses would be going into commercial operations before the end of May, which was the second year anniversary.

On the newly built terminals at Holy Ghost, Gariki, Abakpa and Nsukka, Ozor said they would also be inaugurated and began commercial operations also before May 29.

He also disclosed that the government would bring in the electric and CNG automotive manufacturing plant into Enugu as well as launch the Enugu Smart Transport Programme, which would see to the injection of over 2,000 electric vehicles before the end of the year.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, said funds would be invested in the tourism industry in phases to upgrade some tourist sites in the state.

?We are going to have it in phases. For the first phase, we are having Awhum Waterfall, Nsude Pyramid where we are going to have the first canopy walkway in the South East.

?It measures about 600 metres, which will actually be the longest in Nigeria. We also have Ngwo Pine Forest where we are having the first zipline in Nigeria.

?The zipline will measure about 300 metres. In the same Ngwo, we will have a big rotunda and a smaller rotunda. We have the Cross of Hope to be located at Okpatu,? she said.

Madueke further said the Cross of Hope would be sitting 580 metres above sea level and the cross itself would measure about 50 metres, making it a total of about 630 metres above sea level.

?The cross will have about 15 floors with a lift. At the Awhum Waterfalls, we are going to have another canopy walkway and a boardwalk to preserve the ecosystem.

?We equally have the Akwuke/Atakkwu Waterpark and Ovu Lake Golf and Resort at Akpawfu,? she stated.

She explained that all the tourist sites would have experience centres, food courts and renewable energy, adding that tour buses would soon arrive to ensure ease of movement of tourists.

The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Lloyd Ekweremadu, said the State Executive Council had directed the commencement of work both at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village by June.

This, he said, was in preparation ahead of the 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival holding in Enugu in 2026.

He revealed that he briefed the council on the progress made in establishing a Lab for Animation for young people in Enugu State, which Gov. Peter Mbah would inaugurate soon.

?We are similarly working towards empowering over 2,100 young people across the state, who were trained around December last year.

?This empowerment will be coming up on the 12th of August, being the International Youth Day,? Ekweremadu said. (NAN)

Update news