By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Anambra State government, Wednesday, barred private institutions or personalities from hosting events at the newly refurbished Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.
According to the State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, the order was one of the outcomes of the Anambra State Executive Council's (ANSEC) meeting held at the new government (Light House) which is closer to the place.
Alex Ekwueme square was built by late governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju's administration who ruled from 1999 to 2003, burnt during the mayhem that led to kidnapping of a sitting governor, Chris Ngige (2003-2006), rebuilt by former governor Peter Obi's regime and renovated by Soludo's led government in 2025.
"Several significant decisions were made at the Anambra State Executive Council's (ANSEC) second meeting of 2026, which was held on March 2, 2026, at Light House, Awka. These include: Ekwueme Square Now Strictly for Government Functions.
"Council also decided that Ekwueme Square, which is now considered an extension of Light House, will no longer be available for private events and declared it exclusive for government use. The Multipurpose Arena of the Awka Township Stadium can now host private events previously held at Ekwueme Square," he stated.
He further revealed that the Council awarded and approved release of the sum of N164,396,750.11 as cost overrun on the construction of an IAAF standard 5-lane spray system track and natural grass pitch in Ekwulobia Stadium Complex, including all its appurtenances, awarded to Phimax Global Enterprises Ltd.
Others were release of the sum of N72,628,864.59 for road marking and installation of thermoplastic speed bumps along the 10.043 km newly constructed Afor Nkpor-Eke Obosi Road, and sum of N121,948,995.00 for the supply and installation of formatted 10 NR 40 ft containers in multiple locations across the state as a temporary accommodation for security personnel, awarded to Achufusi Ventures.
Also released was the sum of N172,192,325.77 for Lot 1: Building an asphalt surface on the internal dual carriage driveway at the ICC Awka, and release of the sum of N175,388,731.57 for Lot 2: Building an asphalt surface on the service lane to the State House of Assembly and the High Court Complex Awka, and release of the sum of N72,628,864.59 for road-marking and installation of thermoplastic speed bumps along the 10.043 km newly constructed Afor Nkpor-Eke Obosi Road, awarded to S.N.U. Ventures.