By Francis Igata
ENUGU—The Enugu State Executive Council has approved the amendment of Section 315 of the Criminal Code to ensure that those found guilty of kidnapping would have their residential houses or buildings demolished.

This was even as the government approved the upgrading of the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, to a degree awarding institution.

The government said that in addition to the regular punishment of imprisonment as provided in the extant law, the relevant section would include demolition of buildings where victims of kidnapping were held captive in order to serve as a deterrent to prospective perpetrators.

Briefing newsmen at the Government House, Enugu, after the council meeting, the Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, said that the Exco also approved the award of contract for the rehabilitation of the 21.5km Opi -Obollo Afor Federal road as well as additional works at Amalla and 9th Mile internal roads from Ekochin Junction to Mechanic Village junction to Reynolds Construction Company, RCC, Nig Ltd at the cost of N1.35 billion.

Udeuhele said that the council’s approval of the upgrading of the IMT to a degree-awarding institution was in a bid to meet the educational needs of the state just as the award of the contract was consistent with the government’s commitment towards improving the lives of the people by creating the enabling environment for safe and smooth transportation in the state, especially during the forthcoming Christmas season.

According to Udeuhele, the council also approved the flag-off ceremonies at the various sites for road projects and building of water projects in the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, on October 15.

On the IMT, he said that “in line with this decision, the council has directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Miletus Eze to draft a bill to be forwarded to the Enugu State House of Assembly for necessary action.”