By; Bala B. Bitrus, Minna.
The new Minna Orphanage and Old People’s Home whose construction was started by the immediate past administration in Niger State is to be completed by the present government.
The project was abandoned after work on it had reached about 75% completion when the last government stopped funding it forcing the contractor to abandon the work.
The present administration had last month said it was going to reevaluate all abandoned projects across the state and resume work on only those projects that would on completion impact positively on the citizens.
The government said the completion of the new Orphanage, Old Peoples’ Home and the Spinal Cord Injury Peoples’ Home located in the same structure would cost N83.3 million.
The old structure located along the Northern bye pass in the state capital has been in use for over forty years and has since become inadequate, obsolete, old fashioned and dilapidated to discharge the desired services it was established for.
Niger state Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Rose Abara said the present administration in the state has resolved to expand the scope of the facility and then complete it for the good of those the centre is to cater for.
Mrs. Abara said while speaking with newsmen shortly after the state’s executive council meeting on Thursday at the Government House, that the new project is planned to provide better and qualitative services than what the old structure was doing.
The construction of the new Orphanage was started by the immediate past administration but was abandoned due to lack of funds.The present administration said it will expand it to have more features including more rooms, recreational facilities and a clinic that will better the living conditions of the inhabitants.
Work on the upgrading and completion of the home will commence soon according to the Commissioner who explained that the design consists of six bedroom chalets that would accommodate workers and caregivers who attend to the inmates and others.
The Commissioner told journalists that the new structure will include a clinic and a play parlour for children’s use, a television room and other facilities that would be added to the Orphanage.The Commissioner explained that the amount, 85.3 million naira to be spent on the project include the cost of all fixtures and furnishing of the Home.She reaffirmed the commitment of the state government towards improving the lots of women and youths by empowering them in line with the administration’s aspirations to empower women and youths in the state.“The present administration in line with it’s promises to better the lots of it’s citizens, is giving priority attention to women and youths in the 2017 budget proposals”. She disclosed that Ministry has concluded enumerations of women groups for the start of the women and youths empowerment scheme.
