Ebonyi Progress Match To Shelter Under Gov. Umahi
It is commonplace knowledge that the Divine Mandate administration of Governor David Nweze Umahi is developing Ebonyi landscape through comprehensive infrastructural projects which comprise three overhead bridges, a pedestrian crossover bridges, all the roads in Abakaliki urban internal-road network measuring a total distance of about 500 kilometers, the Onueke and Afikpo urban road networks, intervention in federal roads with a total distance of 54.5 kilometers, the Hilltop - Nwofe Agbaja virgin road, Nkwegu - FUNAI road et cetera. Umahi's uncommon achievements in sectors like security, health, Boarder peace and conflict resolution, education, commerce and industry, agriculture, tourism, empowerment and job creation, et cetera are equally in the dormain of public awareness. Beyond these, a lot of progress has been silently made in the Land, Survey and Housing sector where Chief Sunday Inyima, an advocate of the Divine Mandate philosophy, serves as the Honourable Commissioner.
For instance, within the first 100 days of the administration, Ebonyi state Governor's Lodge and Ebonyi state Presidential Lodge were reconstructed and remodeled to a modern human habitats conducive to the proactive mental planning which the duty of leadership demands from the occupants. This project was done by a joint ministerial-committee supervised by the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing. Pursuant to the new face of Abakaliki Capital City under the Divine Mandate administration, the ministry constructed a new Government House gate replete with splendour and magnificence. A new and better perimeter fencing and gate house which brought Ebonyi State Police Command Headquarters into terms with the modern city which Abakaliki has become have been constructed for the premises of Ebonyi State Police Command Headquarters. At the New Government House project site in the Centenary City Abakaliki, block works have been completed on the three buildings which include the Governor's Office, the Governor's Lodge and the Presidential Lodge.
Pursuant to the human-faced thrust of the administration of Engr. David Nweze Umahi, Ebonyi State Government through the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing built a modern shopping complex at Akanu Ibiam junction and allocated the shops at no costs to the small-scale entrepreneurs who occupied the decrepit shops which were lawfully demolished to give way to the development of the appurtenances of Akanu Ibiam overhead bridge. This was done by our deacon-governor to save the businesses and means of livelihood of the traders. To abate the congestion in Abakaliki Federal Prisons which has led to attempted jail-breaks in recent times, Ebonyi State Government is building three modern prison blocks in Abakaliki prisons. The constructions of the pure concrete cells have reached advanced levels.
Other projects of Governor Umahi through the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing include the construction of the largest recycling plant in Nigeria which occupies about one hectare of land which is underway at Umuoghara, Ezza North L.G.A. This was the particular project which educed the trending "dance of development" from former President Olusegun Obasanjo who was at the project site on 7th November, 2017. It is expected that over 3000 skilled and unskilled youths will be gainfully employed in the factory.
Other projects handled by the ministry include a befitting modern restaurant being constructed within the precincts of Pa Ngele Oruta (Abakaliki Township) Stadium complex to complement the edifice; a Green House or solar power-house beside the main gate of the permanent site of Ebonyi State University to generate solar energy to power vital installations and devices in the university; and a modern bus stop with a spacious and comfortable commuters' lounge near the pedestrian crossover bridge at EBSU permanent site main gate.
The ministry has broken the jinx of inability to acquire land for government projects by acquiring the 25.01-hectare Uda Odeji land at Nnorom street, 68-hectare land at Nwofe Agbaja and equally took notice of 30 - 50 hectares of land at Ezza North, Ohaukwu and Ohaozara L.G.A. donated for acquisition and handover to the Federal Government for various federal projects. In the same vein, Ebonyi state Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing has acquired sufficient land at various locations within the state for allocation to Ebonyi people for the development of housing estates and new towns. Above all, pursuant to the covenant of Governor David Nweze Umahi to prosper Ebonyi state through the Word of God, the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing has commenced work on Ebonyi Ecumenical Centre project. Work on the project is going on according to the time line of the State Government. The hallmark of all these projects is a 5000-unit single-bedroom housing estate being built for low-earners at Ohaozara L.G.A. of Ebonyi state. Added to this are the conclusion of practical arrangements for the construction of other housing estates in the state through Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative in the 2018 financial year.
For effectively interpreting the positive vision of Governor David Nweze Umahi in the lands and housing sectors in tangible practical terms, Chief Inyima has recieved several encomia for his roles in the development of new towns in Ebonyi state from critical stakeholders in urban and town planning as well as from the National President of Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union, RATTAWU.
From the foregoing, it is pertinent that with Governor David Nweze Umahi, the progress match of Ebonyi state has earnestly begun and the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing is an integral part of that movement. Truly, we are not where we want to be, but there is no doubt that we are not where we were on 25th May, 2015. With our wonder-working governor, Chief David Nweze Umahi, on the saddle we are certainly bound to arrive our desired destination in no distant time. The duty of Ebonyi people is to secure this golden opportunity of fast-tracking the progress of Ebonyi state to shelter as well as the comprehensive development of Ebonyi state by voting for our icon of democracy, the 'Roadmaster', and our wonder-working governor - Chief David Nweze Umahi - in the 2019 elections.
It is well with Ebonyi state!