Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has commenced the revival of a 60-year-old abandoned veterinary centre in Izhianmbo, a project his administration says will create 2,000 jobs and address contemporary veterinary education, health, and agricultural needs.
Nwifuru, who disclosed this yesterday during an inspection of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) Centre, said the facility was abandoned for six decades before his intervention.
According to the Governor, the massive facility sits on 295 hectares of land and will comprise a veterinary college, modern abattoirs, hospital, grazing reserves with 2,000 herding capacity, and farming enclaves for piggery, grasscutters and other ruminants.
He said contracts for 27 out of the proposed 86 buildings for administrative purposes, students’ hostels, staff quarters and lecture theatres have been awarded and construction is in progress.
“We have 295 hectares of land here. We are going to build about 27 buildings in the first instance. The contract for the construction of the 27 buildings have all been awarded,” Nwifuru said.
He added that work on some sections, especially access roads, was stalled due to the rainy season, but full construction will commence in November.
“We have agreed that full constructions should commence in November this year,” he said.
The Governor urged indigenes of the area to exhibit ownership spirit and thanked them for their cooperation, noting that no contractor has complained of theft or disruption.
“We are looking at an employment level of about 2000 workforce here. I thank you for your cooperation as I have not received any news of stealing and social violations. No contractor has complained of any disruptions by way of theft. I can assure you that by December this year, many buildings here will be completed,” he assured.
Conducting the Governor round the facility, the State L-PRES Consultant, Dr Usman Ali Lawan, said the project is designed to ensure livestock production meets global standards while providing jobs for the people.
He commended Governor Nwifuru for his proactivity and foresight in initiating people-centric projects.
