As part of the funeral arrangements for the late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the Anambra State Government has announced a state-wide public holiday on February 1, 2018.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, announced this yesterday in a statement made available in Awka.

The statement read: “Please note that February 1, 2018 is work-free-day in Anambra State. All markets and businesses will be closed on that day to enable Ndi Anambra, friends, associates and well wishers to pay our last respects to the late vice president.

“All those attending the commendation ceremony including various social, cultural, religious, political, professional, educational groups, market men and women, and all other groups are to be seated by 10a.m. prompt at Ekwueme Square.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to giving Ekwueme a burial ceremony never given to any late vice president of Nigeria before.

Ngige who led a federal government delegation to Oko, the hometown of the late vice president to inspect the level of preparations, said this would be an expression of the president’s love to the people of the South-east.

Ngige said the Buhari-led federal government would spend close to N1 billion naira for the burial.

He disclosed that expenditure covers the fixing of the Agulu-Nanka-Oko road, Nnobi-Nnewi roads, among others, which would cost over N480 million, building of the tomb, hospital bills, flight of the corpse, casket, among others.

He said: “What this shows is that President Buhari had a human face and in love with Ndigbo. Buhari has done some unusual things and he has tried to make Ekwueme’s burial the best and what he is doing today in Anambra State, he has never done to any other vice president in Nigeria.”

He said the federal government would name a national monument after the late former vice president

“We are getting ready for the burial of our iconic figure. In the next 48 hours, everything will be ready. The federal government has assisted the family and taken care of a lot of things.

“From what I have seen here today (yesterday) I’m impressed with the level of preparations and we have to equally thank the state government for its involvement in the burial, the government in this state has done well also.”

Ekwueme died at a United Kingdom hospital after a brief illness in November 2017, and would be buried on February 2, 2018, in his country home, in Oko, Orumba North Local Government of the state. (THISDAY)