It's holding up well, all things considered! I'd have loved to see a plan of the floor layout, or see what the inside looks like!

But must the cash-strapped state gov't do everything?......Why can't some wealthy individual buy the unfinished structure and land from the state gov't at a discounted price, complete it, and then hire it out for functions like weddings or seminars? It would even make more sense if the place was bought buy a hotel and made its convention center!

I believe we have too many useless millionaires in Igboland......all mouth and little action! All they're good for is to come home once in a while -from Lagos, Abuja or abroad- and throw money about while being hailed 'Chairman'!!

IGBOSON1:
It's holding up well, all things considered! I'd have loved to see a plan of the floor layout, or see what the inside looks like!

But must the cash-strapped state gov't do everything?......Why can't some wealthy individual buy the unfinished structure and land from the state gov't at a discounted price, complete it, and then hire it out for functions like weddings or seminars? It would even make more sense if the place was bought buy a hotel and made its convention center!

I believe we have too many useless millionaires in Igboland......all mouth and little action! All they're good for is to come home once in a while -from Lagos, Abuja or abroad- and throw money about while being hailed 'Chairman'!!

I believe the state government has not advertised or indicated their interest to sell the center. The area also already has a hotel as part of the entire complex, so if a hotel group buys it, they truly can build their hotel and conference center in the same venue as you noted.

I don't think the Igbo millionaires are useless, it's just our usual copycat nature in Igboland. Everyone wants to copy and do exactly the same type of business! Which is largely importation and trading. You have whole towns doing only motorcycle parts business, why can't someone just build as biscuit or powdered milk making plant for a change! Which makes it very easy to impoverish them by targeting and stopping the importation of items they deal in.
Just like Obasanjo attempted, lets see what APC will do if they win.

cjrane:
Oga,
Spyder, i will be coming to your blog o!

By the way, i decided to post the picture to help enrich our thread.

I hope the in coming administration will complete and put this powerful edifice to use. Imagine all the opportunities of conference tourism, seminars, AGM etc which could have held in Enugu if this edifice were completed! I love Sullivan for his effort to transform Enugu state, but i think he took his disdain for Chimaroke a little too far. You should support good ideas for your state, even if it were originated by your political foe.

I cannot imagine Obiano abandoning the Onitsha & Agulu hotels because Obi who had left his party started it. Such attitude amount to a disservice to the people of the state that voted you into power and whom you had sworn to serve.

@ bolded, I agree completely. The lack of continuity in completing this awesome building is heart breaking. Again, I have notice with heartbreak that on the average, every Nigerian project is totally focussed on just the physical structure. No attention is paid to the environment. Nigeria is actually a very beautiful country, but it looks chaotic due to our typical attitude for not caring about how the environment looks. As long as the building is beautiful

Below, is a road leading into a new hotel and an intl. conference center looking like an oval egg building to the left in a 'poor' African country. Notice how serene landscaping transformed the whole place that it looks as if it were in a developed country! Something seriously lacking in Nigeria. Compare that mentality to the environment and landscaping in the first picture to the mentality around our own almost completed International Conference center in the second picture.
Believe me, these little things such as a culture of landscaping and paying attention to detail matter a lot in how beautiful or conducive for living a country will be.

I wish Sullivan would disregard Chimaroke's shortcomings and complete the abandoned International Conference Center, even if it would entail borrowing money for that purpose.

Sullivan should please understand that Chimaroke did not start the project so that he and his family can live in it. He started it for the pride of the entire people of Enugu State.

Sullivan should also not forget that he has a huge burden of proving he is different from other people. As far as I am concerned, he is already my hero but I wish he completes the building. The building was started with Enugu State money and it's just too good to be abandoned.

If Sully nwa mama fails to complete that project, he shouldn't expect anyone to do it.

Some houses in this city eh! Inside the Ekulu housing estate GRA Enugu. Claim this house with a "like"

OUR STATE IS A BLESSED ONE........SEE WHY BELOW>>>>>
(1) as early as 1916 ENUGU became one of the few developed cities in west africa during the colonial era because of the huge coal deposit not just that,the whitemen found out that there is something special about ENUGU.
(2) in 1938 ENUGU became the capital of the (whole) eastern region.
(3) on may 27th 1967 ENUGU became the capital of the newly created east central state.
(4) on may 30th 1967 the short-lived biafran republic was declared and ENUGU was made its capital.
(5) ENUGU still retained its status in 1970 as the capital of the east central state after the biafran war.
(6) on febuary 3 1976 the east central state was divided into two new states,imo state and anambra state....ENUGU again was made the capital of the newly created anambra state.
(7) August 1991,the military government led by ibrahim babangida divided anambra state into two states,ENUGU state and anambra state....ENUGU remained as the capital of the newly created ENUGU state!
Don't you think that this very city is blessed and is so special? As for me and my family,we will forever rep 042!!!

Ogui junction, Enugu.

This is the type of large roundabouts we have in Enugu which could be beautiful if a water fountain is added to it.

Closer on the roundabout. .........

To Abakpa, through the barracks

This road looks innocent enough, until you drive in. ......

The red earth in enugu spoils it for me. The red earth make Enugu look dirty. I remember driving from Abakiliki to enugu and when i got there i was completly brown from all the dust i had to shower again and change my clothes before going for my appointment. that was some time ago, but it has colored my image of enugu forever, I hope they have fixed that road.

And from this pictures the red earth is a recurring theme. you never know what that red earth will do to your clothes and car until you experience it.
Am sorry enugu is not an experience i will like to repeat until I hear that they have struck a deal with dangote cement to pave all the street, sidewalks and every exposed red earth in path/roads in Enugu.

jazzydee:
The red earth in enugu spoils it for me. The red earth make Enugu look dirty. I remember driving from Abakiliki to enugu and when i got there i was completly brown from all the dust i had to shower again and change my clothes before going for my appointment. that was some time ago, but it has colored my image of enugu forever, I hope they have fixed that road.

And from this pictures the red earth is a recurring theme. you never know what that red earth will do to your clothes and car until you experience it.
Am sorry enugu is not an experience i will like to repeat until I hear that they have struck a deal with dangote cement to pave all the street, sidewalks and every exposed red earth in path/roads in Enugu.

And pave all our village surfaces and even our bushtracks, pathways, compounds and farmlands?

Well I understand how you felt after the experience on the bad roads then but a lot of the roads are done and the whole of the state looks good to some extent.

But we are never going to hate our red soil. If the red soil makes me dirty, I take a shower, if it dirties my car, I wash it. How else will car washers and dry cleaners feed their families and pay house rents?

This is the way it was when God created us and sowed us in this land, we germinated here and are growing seriously here, bearing good fruits. We are going to remain here on our red soil, loving and tending it till we hand it over to our children and our children's children. It is a very rich soil filled with humus, very fertile and stony enough to stand great houses and strong projects. We don't do raft foundations here, saving us serious money. The advantages of Enugu lands far outweighs the disadvantages, so we are staying put.

We are going to enjoy our land forever, Enugu state amaka!

spyder880:


And pave all our village surfaces and even our bushtracks, pathways, compounds and farmlands?

Well I understand how you felt after the experience on the bad roads then but a lot of the roads are done and the whole of the state looks good to some extent.

But we are never going to hate our red soil. If the red soil makes me dirty, I take a shower, if it dirties my car, I wash it. How else will car washers and dry cleaners feed their families and pay house rents?

This is the way it was when God created us and sowed us in this land, we germinated here and are growing seriously here, bearing good fruits. We are going to remain here on our red soil, loving and tending it till we hand it over to our children and our children's children. It is a very rich soil filled with humus, very fertile and stony enough to stand great houses and strong projects. We don't do raft foundations here, saving us serious money. The advantages of Enugu lands far outweighs the disadvantages, so we are staying put.

We are going to enjoy our land forever, Enugu state amaka!

Spyder880, you are going to save some lost souls in foreign land. Enugu till I die. God bless Enugu State.

Wonder why people keep complaining about red soil in Enugu as if living on it will make pigs fly .
Here is what i found on wikipedia:
Red clay soil is common
throughout the "Southern
United States", especially
around the Piedmont. This photo was taken in North Carolina.
So, what's all the fuss about? Does red soil make Pigs fly?

spyder880:
This road looks innocent enough, until you drive in. ......

Spyder explain

Enugu will be a greater city if the next gov has the same drive as Chime. Another 8 years maybe on other sectors.

For me i will favour the following sectors

Roads....inter town roads. Like it or not roads opens up a town to trade and other developments

Urban developement and planning. Because more people are moving to urban areas

So places like Nsukka, Ninth mile, Abgani plus Enugu will be remodeled by urban planning companies like Surbana of Singapore ( they did a great job in kigali)

Aggressive pursuit of investors. Aviation, Agric processing, manufacturing

I strongly believe there is gas in Enugu even if it is coal seam gas. So that can be explored with its associated benefits

Bishop42:
Wonder why people keep complaining about red soil in Enugu as if living on it will make pigs fly .
Here is what i found on wikipedia:
Red clay soil is common
throughout the "Southern
United States", especially
around the Piedmont. This photo was taken in North Carolina.
So, what's all the fuss about? Does red soil makes Pigs fly?

As a young person living with my grandma, our drinking water pot was made of red soil from Enugu. My secondary school buildings were made of bricks from the same place. I am sure many of us do not know about Akegbe Ugwu bricks industry, which manufactured the burnt bricks used in building most houses in Trans Ekulu years ago. I still do not have knowledge of any soil more fertile than the red soil of Enugu. That red soil na blessing oo.

Bishop42:
Wonder why people keep complaining about red soil in Enugu as if living on it will make pigs fly .
Here is what i found on wikipedia:
Red clay soil is common
throughout the "Southern
United States", especially
around the Piedmont. This photo was taken in North Carolina.
So, what's all the fuss about? Does red soil makes Pigs fly?

Its easy for you to show a purported image of a bush or construction site in N. Carolina. But i have been to North carolina before, the difference between the red soil of the N.carolina and that of Enugu is that the red soils of N.Carolina is not threat to the economic functions, Ambiance and environmental aesthetics of the state as is the case in Enugu based on the pictures of enugu in this thread.
In North carolina you and your car will not turn red by commuting across the state, as you would in Enugu. They know how to pave streets, sidewalks and cover all the nusiance of the red earth with grass and vegetation to make their environment functional.

I am glad you do know that there are other places in the world with red earth, maybe the govt. of Enugu will do well to understudy those societies and learn how despite their red soil they are able to keep their environment clean and their roads devoid of red sand dust storm that is the menace in Enugu.
Stop excusing ineptitude, tree planting, grasses, landscaping and proper paving of useable spaces is needed in enugu to prevent the eyesore that is evident in all the pictures of enugu in this thread. that is not so hard to accomplish its common sense.

Oga Spyder, thank you for that rebuttal on red soil. Bishop thank you too for posting that picture if USA 'red soil".

The whole South East USA including places as Georgia, North Carolina , South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana , Alabama and Tennessee all have 'red clay soil' exactly like in Enugu and other places in Africa. But go and see those places and tell me anywhere in Africa that is more beautiful or less dusty. We are just spoilt children whining over nothing. What if God gave us a desert?

Unemadu, thank you for that post.i believe we can begin by using COAL for power generation and making rods for houses and bridge construction. Whatever happened to Niger steel? We need to start using our coal in productive ventures again than listen to Nigeria's lies that coal is not useful. While America, China and South Africa depend on COAL for a large percent of their electric power generation ! If coal were in Kano or Kaduna, it would be a resource developed as oil, because it is in the SE, Nigeria neglects it and imports bad coal from other countries to run Ajaokuta steel factory !

cjrane:
Oga Spyder, thank you for that rebuttal on red soil. Bishop thank you too for posting that picture if USA 'red soil".

The whole South East USA including places as Georgia, North Carolina , South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana , Alabama and Tennessee all have 'red clay soil' exactly like in Enugu and other places in Africa. But go and see those places and tell me anywhere in Africa that is more beautiful or less dusty. We are just spoilt children whining over nothing. What if God gave us a desert?

Unemadu, thank you for that post.

Learn to tell the truth and be realistic, Stop being emotional about constructive criticism,if you have ever visited any of those states you mention in the USA, Is there any of them that the streets,buildings, side walks are dirty due to red dust as Enugu?
Stop excusing ineptitude, tree planting, grasses, landscaping and proper paving of useable spaces is needed in enugu to prevent the eyesore that is evident in all the pictures of enugu in this thread. that is not so hard to accomplish its common sense.

jazzydee:


Learn to tell the truth and be realistic, Stop being emotional about constructive criticism,if you have ever visited any of those states you mention in the USA, Is there any of them that the streets,buildings, side walks are dirty due to red dust as Enugu?
Stop excusing ineptitude, tree planting, grasses, landscaping and proper paving of useable spaces is needed in enugu to prevent the eyesore that is evident in all the pictures of enugu in this thread. that is not so hard to accomplish its common sense.

I usually ignore trolls like u that would rather speak than keep quiet on what they didn't know. But I will post some pictures of Savannah Georgia so you will see the soil color

red earth syndrome on cars and houses can be eliminated only if every single road,pathway,footway,animal way and antways in both urbanand rural enugu and villages are paved and covered.

cjrane:


I usually ignore trolls like u. But I will post some pictures of Savannah Georgia so you will see the soil color

Am not interested in soil color of georgia, I have been to gerogia I know what the soil color is there, Am interested in the solutions they have applied to keep their environment and useable space clean an and devoid of of the red dust menace.
Those solutions are what you need to post so the govt. of Enugu who looks at this thread will take a cue.

asha80:
red earth syndrome on cars and houses can be eliminated only if every single road,pathway,footway,animal way and antways in both urbanand rural enugu and villages are paved and covered.

You dont need to pave every where but just the useable space, and by the way landscaping with grasses, trees and flowers form the local area are also simple solutions that can be applied. the trees will also help check erosion.
Not All solution involves spending huge sums of money.

jazzydee:

Am not interested in soil color of georgia, I have been to gerogia I know what the soil color is there, Am interested in the solutions they have applied to keep their environment and useable space clean an and devoid of of the red dust menace.
Those solutions are what you need to post so the govt. of Enugu who looks at this thread will take a cue.

I will avoid a second reply so we don't have to be going round and round in circles, your points are well noted and I know someone in authority will read this soon and maybe apply some of your recommendations, thanks for looking in. Bye.

For my viewpoints on the expected Dangote cement price slash, read my blog post on this link
amazingviewpoints@.com

cjrane:
Oga Spyder, thank you for that rebuttal on red soil. Bishop thank you too for posting that picture if USA 'red soil".

The whole South East USA including places as Georgia, North Carolina , South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana , Alabama and Tennessee all have 'red clay soil' exactly like in Enugu and other places in Africa. But go and see those places and tell me anywhere in Africa that is more beautiful or less dusty. We are just spoilt children whining over nothing. What if God gave us a desert?

Unemadu, thank you for that post.i believe we can begin by using COAL for power generation and making rods for houses and bridge construction. Whatever happened to Niger steel? We need to start using our coal in productive ventures again than listen to Nigeria's lies that coal is not useful. While America, China and South Africa depend on COAL for a large percent of their electric power generation ! If coal were in Kano or Kaduna, it would be a resource developed as oil, because it is in the SE, Nigeria neglects it and imports bad coal from other countries to run Ajaokuta steel factory !

I agree with the coal argument , just that we have the FG hindrance factor like u pointed out

But i thought there's a company in kogi state that is minning coal

I despise the FG for obvious reasons. Is there a way to circumvent these guys without looking rebellious?

These guys are slowing us down

Meanwhile the southeast should have an investment arm, much like odua investment of SW so that they can attract big projects and fund them with profits shared among participating states

So projects like coal power plants, seaports, airports, rail links etc can be funded.

Screw FG.

Unemadu:
I despise the FG for obvious reasons. Is there a way to circumvent these guys without looking rebellious?

These guys are slowing us down

Meanwhile the southeast should have an investment arm, much like odua investment of SW so that they can attract big projects and fund them with profits shared among participating states

So projects like coal power plants, seaports, airports, rail links etc can be funded.

Screw FG.

The influential south easterners need to come together.
imagine emeka offor frustrating geometric Aba plant?
I mean, the one project that managed to leave the FG table is now blocked by an Igbo for selfish interests?
Mba nu.
We need a cohesion like the investment arm you are talking about. We also need orientation.

Unemadu:
I despise the FG for obvious reasons. Is there a way to circumvent these guys without looking rebellious?

These guys are slowing us down

Meanwhile the southeast should have an investment arm, much like odua investment of SW so that they can attract big projects and fund them with profits shared among participating states

So projects like coal power plants, seaports, airports, rail links etc can be funded.

Screw FG.

I believe Igbo banks should start their own central banks...why not?

Start off with 30% of an annual government budget as the seed capital, plus capital from investors, then borrow another chunk. Then sell it in the private market till you build a billion dollar capital base. Each state can do it's borrowing from it's own bank that it has interest in. These banks will be able to finance major projects without dipping into government budget at ALL in 3-4 years.

Then make the ministries independent. Make each one like a business that is responsible for raising it's own revenue if approved by the senate (toll ways for ministry of works or water bills, school fees for ministry of education, donations, etc) PLUS the state government paying the ministries a percentage of their budget, plus the local governments. If the ministries need more capital they can borrow from the state's central bank.


In this way the recurrent will disappear from state government budget and the extra money can be used freely to finance projects that a governor believes is important. For example the ministries will decide what they will build independently and how it will be funded. If the state AGREES with the project and wants to see it done they will add funds to it, if the state doesn't they can leave it alone and simple give the pre-determined budgetary allocation to the ministry, but the state won't dictate projects, ministers will.

This will insure ministries are working (more schools for example = more school fees and more reasons to get state and local government money, better schools = higher school fees)

jazzydee:
The red earth in enugu spoils it for me. The red earth make Enugu look dirty. I remember driving from Abakiliki to enugu and when i got there i was completly brown from all the dust i had to shower again and change my clothes before going for my appointment. that was some time ago, but it has colored my image of enugu forever, I hope they have fixed that road.

And from this pictures the red earth is a recurring theme. you never know what that red earth will do to your clothes and car until you experience it.
Am sorry enugu is not an experience i will like to repeat until I hear that they have struck a deal with dangote cement to pave all the street, sidewalks and every exposed red earth in path/roads in Enugu.

sir,we don't need people like you in enugu! No one noticed you when you were in enugu(am sure),which village are you from,if i may ask? Probably abakiliki.....you just tried to rubbish and taint the image of a beautiful city blessed by God and favoured by nature,which men like you have laboured and are still labouring to make it a better place....you,yes you what have you contributed to the development of enugu? If you don't like enugu,then keep it to yourself and don't just come here and spew thrash! Is your abakiliki even better than enugu? Who knows abakiliki?
Please sir,never visit enugu again not to talk of residing here,ok?!
Like the president of zimbabwe once said to the u.k prime minister tony blair,-"keep your u.k and let me keep my zimbabwe"
keep your abakiliki(or wherever you come from) and let me keep my enugu!
I'm proudly from the pride of the East(ENUGU)