From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
To ensure a cleaner environment, Delta State government has begun the construction of a mechanic village in Asaba where all automobile artisans are expected relocate to in the next 12 months after the project is completed.
The project, which is in partnership with a private investor, ReHomes Property Development Company Limited, is expected to gulp about N5 billion.
Designed as a one-stop shop for automobile artisans and vehicle spare parts dealers, the mechanic village will also serve as skill acquisition centre for youths interested in automobile repairs.
Impressed with the level of work done so far by the investor, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who performed the ground breaking ceremony said ReHomes Limited was committed to the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed some months ago.
Okowa disclosed that his administration has also signed an MoU with other private investors for separate projects in other cities across the state.
“We have also signed MoU with the private sector for development of parks in other cities and the energy sector. We will continue to be pro-active by providing the enabling environment for investors to thrive,” he assured.
Executive Assistant to the Governor on Investment, Mr. Paul Nmah, said the investors were convinced that the agenda of the state government provided a valuable platform for businesses to thrive.
Nmah, who said the project is worth about N5 billion, explained that the “benefit is to clear the mechanics scattered along the road and bring them to one unit. It is going to be a one-stop shop where there will be a spare parts market. The mechanics will have their shops here and anything you want will be here.”
On his part, Project Director of ReHomes Limited, Mr. Chinedu Monu, explained that the project was designed as a skills acquisition centre for youths, besides being a mechanic workshop for automobile artisans.
He added that there was also a provision for other ancillary services and infrastructure including banking, fire service, clinics, police post, conveniences, restaurants, business centres and large central park, adding that no such project will match it in Nigeria.
“The objective of partnering with the state government to construct this ultra-modern market is to give our state capital a befitting aesthetics and for our auto engineers and spare parts dealers, state-of-the-art workshops and auto parts stalls where all Deltans and, in fact, Nigerians can purchase all manner of auto parts as well as repair their automobiles with the latest state-of-the-art technologies and equipment in a most convenient and serene environment,” he noted.