Ebonyi Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, has pledged to ensure that no community in the state remains cut off from economic and social opportunities, saying infrastructure is central to his administration’s development agenda.
Nwifuru made the pledge in Abakaliki during the celebration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the creation of Ebonyi State.
The governor said Ebonyi had, in three decades, transformed from the circumstances surrounding its creation into a “proud component” of the Nigerian federation, attributing the progress to resilience, courage and determination.
He said his administration had anchored its development agenda on education, human capital development, infrastructure and the creation of opportunities, with road connectivity playing a key role in opening up communities and boosting economic activities.
According to him, the administration has completed more than 1,000 kilometres of roads across the 13 local government areas, in addition to constructing two-kilometre roads in each community.
Nwifuru said ongoing urban renewal projects in Abakaliki, including work on the Vanco Flyover and tunnel, were also progressing satisfactorily.
“A functional transport network means farmers can move produce to markets, traders can reach customers, children can access schools and patients can reach hospitals,” he said.
The governor said the infrastructure drive was part of a broader effort to ensure that the benefits of development reached communities across the state rather than remaining concentrated in urban centres.
On education, Nwifuru said 39 model classroom blocks had been constructed across the 13 local government areas.
He said the government had also strengthened the provision of teaching and learning materials and invested in teachers, stressing that “the greatest infrastructure of any society is the human mind.”
The governor disclosed that his administration had introduced both foreign and local postgraduate scholarship programmes for Ebonyi graduates.
He also listed the completion of a new Senate Building at the ICT University, Oferekpe Agbaja, eight three-storey hostel blocks and the Professor Fidelis Ogah Senior Staff Quarters.
According to him, 12 luxury two-storey faculty buildings are currently under construction at the University of ICT and University of Aeronautic Engineering.
Other projects, he said, include a new Law Faculty Complex at the CAS Campus and an Education Faculty Complex at the Ishieke Campus of Ebonyi State University, as well as the reconstruction of internal roads with concrete pavement and streetlights.
Nwifuru further disclosed that the monthly subvention to the Ebonyi State University had been increased from N150 million to N280 million.
On healthcare, the governor said his administration had embarked on a comprehensive revitalisation of primary and secondary healthcare facilities through the recruitment of health personnel, provision of modern medical equipment and expansion of health insurance coverage.
He said the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency recorded 394,387 encounter visits and 478,607 services utilised between 2023 and 2026, covering services including antenatal care, malaria treatment, deliveries and hypertension screening.
The governor also said his administration had implemented a N95,000 minimum wage, cleared pension and gratuity arrears from 1996 to date and sustained the annual Christmas bonus for workers.
Speaking on industrialisation, Nwifuru said work had commenced at the new Abakaliki Cement Company, describing the project as part of efforts to industrialise the state, create jobs and expand economic opportunities for young people.
He said the administration’s development strategy was aimed at creating an environment where infrastructure, education, healthcare and industry could work together to improve the lives of Ebonyians.
Nwifuru thanked members of the State House of Assembly, the State Executive Council and the judiciary, as well as founding figures associated with the creation and development of the state, including Navy Captain Walter Faghabor (rtd), CP Simeon Oduoye, Senator Sam Egwu, Chief Martin Elechi, Senator David Umahi and Senator Pius Anyim.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his support for Ebonyi State.
The anniversary celebration featured the swearing-in of 1,710 Executive Assistants, while 10 Senior Special Assistants and three traditional rulers received certificates of recognition.
Nwifuru congratulated Nigerians on the 66th Independence Anniversary and Ebonyians on 30 years of statehood, stressing that the next phase of the state’s development must build on the progress recorded over the past three decades.
