By VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA — THE Federal Government yesterday granted approval to Anambra State government to reconstruct the controversial Anambra end of the Onitsha-Enugu expressway.

Anambra State would receive reimbursement from the Federal Government later.

The approval was seen as a great relief to Governor Peter Obi, who had been pleading with the Federal Government to allow the state government reconstruct the road and get the money later in the interest of the users.

Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, who announced the approval during a visit to Governor Obi in Awka, said President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval was due to the governor’s consistent pleading and several representations to the Federal Government on the need for speedy completion of the project.

According to the minister, the Bridgehead to Zik’s round about axis of the dual carriageway was awarded to the Nigercat Construction Company, while Zik’s roundabout to Amansea in Awka was awarded to the Consolidated Construction Company – CCC, and explained that the partitioning of the road to the two contractors was to ensure early completion of the project and save the people of the South-East from untold hardship.

He said: “The president has approved that Anambra State government should finance the job which the new contractor -Nigercat- will do, while the federal ministry of works will reimburse the state at the end of the project.