Governor Charles Soludo of pAnambra State, has vowed to offer #10 million to the first street in Onitsha to complete their repainting from February 1 to March 10 this year.
Prof Soludo made, this vow through the Commissioner for environment, Mr Felix Odimegwu during, an interactive session with Onitsha landlords at Onitsha South Local Government Area Secretariat on February 5.
According to him, the runners up will receive #5 million while the third position will smile home with #3 million.
“We want to do this thing in three folds; repainting, where the governor brought out a challenge ‘Ka Anambra Chakee’ which prompted him to set a cash gift to any street that comes together, discuss and embark on this initiative, paint from street end to street end.
“We are here for the follow up of the last visit here where our governor sent his deputy to come and interact with the Fegge landlords on degeneration and facelift of Onitsha.
“It is the wish of the governor to embark on this initiative. He said that he would be here on Friday for you to see him and hear also that he is the one that sent us here. This is an agenda that is not hard to do and also it is for our health benefit.
“Another one is cleaning of drainages. Onitsha was last rated as the dirtiest place in West Africa but this government since it came, is deliberate to change Onitsha from the present narrative and place it on the right direction it should be.
“Since solid roads constructions are going on, it will be an eyesore that the environment, buildings within these roads are dilapidated, we all know that paints help in protecting houses, so we are here to appreciate the governor.
“Fegge is well planned, when we painted all our houses, plant trees, it will make your properties valuable, appreciate naturally and also conducive for foreign investors and businesses.”
According to him, WHO has also made it known that 60 per cent of the causes of our ailments are from the environment. Clean environment with good air, plus good food, you have given yourself primary health, thereby scaring sicknesses away from you,” he explained.
“Also is tree planting, if we can also plant step trees, map out small space for this, each street should choose their choice and each building plants two step trees each in front of their buildings and in straight line too.
The Transition Committee Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government, Mr. Emeka Orji in his contribution said that to support the governor in his initiative and to encourage Onitsha landlords, that he will add #1million, #500,000 and #300,000 to the first, second and third streets, adding, “we are trying to bring back the former face of Onitsha and we are almost there.
