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There is indeed no doubt that Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is among the best-performing governors in the country in virtually all the sectors. The former Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly became the governor of the state on May 29, 2023. Since then, he has been intentional and methodical in the overall development of the state. He has recorded uncommon strides in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, social welfare and empowerment sectors, among others.
The governor has remarkably done so much under his People’s Charter of Needs agenda. This vision has informed his areas of focus and prompt attention to the needs of Ebonyi people and residents in the state. With his People’s Charter of Needs agenda, the action governor’s goal is apparently in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 goals, ranging from eradicating poverty and hunger to climate action, justice and partnerships, serve as blueprint to end poverty, protect the environment and ensure peace for everyone by 2030.
Ebonyi, under Nwifuru, is moving quickly with determination to achieve these goals with his people-centred administration. Any government that prioritizes the needs of the people is moving in the right direction. There is enough evidence to show that Nwifuru adequately prepared himself for his present role. He is very desirous to develop the state with actionable timelines. He has done a lot in housing, basic education, environment, transport, social welfare and empowerment, infrastructure and others. He has done so much in the judiciary, aviation, border, peace and conflict resolution, internal security and ICT and provision of roads.
Some of the governor’s landmark achievements in housing include the construction of modern duplexes for all Traditional Rulers in the state, the completion of 140 duplexes at Chief Chris Nwankwo Civil and Public Servant Estate, Abakaliki, construction of 300 units of 3-bedroom bungalows in Amanze and Izzo Autonomous Communities in Ishielu. Others are the construction of 26 units of 3-bedroom bungalows for 26 indigent widows (1st phase) and the construction of 65 units of 3-bedroom bungalows for 65 indigent widows across the state (2nd phase).
The governor has demonstrated his love for education by putting in place the necessary infrastructure and manpower needs for basic education in the state. For instance, he ensured the recruitment of 2,000 teachers into primary and secondary schools in the state, as well as the construction of 57 new classroom blocks in basic education schools. The state also witnessed the construction of one-storey building with 12 classrooms in 39 basic education schools and the rehabilitation of dilapidated school buildings in 28 primary schools. It also granted full masters and PhD scholarships to 1,400 indigenes of Ebonyi State in universities in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, respectively. The state government is also constructing buildings at ICT University, Oferekpe, Aeronautic University and Ebonyi State University.
For the environment, the government has procured and installed municipal waste plant at Enyim Umuoghara, Ezza North. Similarly, the pulverization plant at Umuoghara has commenced the production of cellophanes from wastes. The procurement of evacuators for has ensured easy removal of wastes from various dumpsites in the state. This includes daily evacuation of wastes from residential homes, markets, schools, churches, hotels and others.
To ensure seamless transportation within the state, the government has established EBOCAB Transport System and provided 24 SUV cars, 60 Renault Standard Mini Hilux Vehicles, 12 Keke Napep, 40 air-conditioned buses for EBOTRANS and 4 Luxury CNG buses for the Peoples Charter of Needs Programme. Under its social welfare and empowerment programme, the government has prioritized the payment of pensions and gratuities to retired civil servants in the state from 2015 to date, as well as payment of pensions and gratuities to retired staff of Ebonyi State Local Government System from 1996 to date. This is an area many state governments are not forthcoming despite so much revenue from the federal government.
Governor Nwifuru has been forthcoming and proactive in settling communal crisis through peace and conflict resolution. He has through such timely mediations ensured lasting peace in Ezza/Ezillo in Ishielu Local Government Area,Isinkwo/Abaomoge in Onicha Local Government Area, Ohankwu/Amanna in Ikwo/Ezza South Local Government Area and theEffium/Ezza in Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
It is in the area of road infrastructure that Governor Nwifuru has unarguably done his best. This is particularly not surprising. He is doing so much in this sector. His predecessor and current Minister of Works, David Umahi, did a lot in this area, too. But Nwifuru has turned the state into a huge construction site. The roads are so many that only a few can be listed in this article. Those conversant with the geography of Ebonyi State can testify to the road infrastructure renewal under Nwifuru. Some of the roads have been completed while others are yet to be completed. Some of the completed roads include Ukwuachi Eke Market Road, Ishielu LGA, Ezeogo Christopher Road, Ezza/North LGA, Onuzor Ezeogo IV Road, Ezza/North LGA, and Onungamgbo Ogele Road, Ezza/North LGA. Some of the ongoing roads include Mgboro Efuru-Amadi Road, Ezza South LGA, Egu Ofuu Azegu Development Centre Road, Ezza South LGA, Ngangbo-Imeabili Opalede Road, Ezza South LGA, Onu-Nwafia Egunkwo Road, Ikwo LGA, and Ndiaguchi-Ndiagu Apiam Road, Ishielu LGA.
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Considering the importance of water, the state has embarked on some vital water projects to ensure access to potable water to the people of the state. These include the reactivation and rehabilitation of the Ezillo water scheme. Through this, the government has restored water supply from Ezillo to Abakaliki Urban. It has reconnected Ezillo water scheme to the national grid.
In the area of agriculture, the governor’s work has been commendable. The governor released N100 million for rice and cassava production in 2023. He reactivated the Nkaliki Hatchery for job creation. He distributed farm inputs to farmers across the 13 LGAs and procured 15 brand new tractors and agricultural equipment for farmers. The state has commenced the production of fertilizer at the Abakaliki Fertilizer Factory.
It also distributed 13,000 bags of fertilizers to farmers during the 2923 farming season. The government also trained and empowered women and youths in agriculture in 2024 and 2025. The government constructed 30 solar-powered boreholes for farming communities. It has established cassava and rice processing centres, as well as the distribution of rice and cassava processing equipment to farmers and cooperatives.
The government equally supported rice and cassava farming on over 1,000 hectares. It promoted dry season farming on over 400 hectares in 2024 and embarked upon capacity building for farmers across the 13 LGAs of the state.
In the health sector, Governor Nwifuru has made tremendous impact to ensure quality healthcare for his people. He has recruited over 653 medical personnel across the state, as well as 2,144 ad hoc nurses and midwives and auxiliary nurses in the state’s primary healthcare centres (PHCs). Apart from purchasing ambulances for all the general hospitals in the state, the governor has renovated quarters for medical doctors. He has also procured medical equipment and consumables worth millions of naira. He has revitalized 171 PHCs in the state.
The Governor has through the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, and her pet project, BERWO Foundation, organized free hydrocell, hernia, and eye surgeries, free treatment of sickle cell patients, free prostate and cervical cancer screening, enrollment of women into health insurance scheme, free treatment of VVF patients, free antenatal for pregnant women and free deliveries.
On poverty alleviation programme, the Governor has increased Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) beneficiaries in the state from 48,000 to 220,000 persons. He has also distributed food items, rehabilitation materials and relief support to over 48,000 Ebonyians across the state. He has embarked on welfare support worth over N210million for indigent people across the state.
For community development, the government has disbursed N10million each to 31 communities in the state for community development projects. For these projects, including completed ones and ongoing ones, Governor Nwifuru has really done well for Ebonyi people. He richly deserves their support in moving the state forward.
