Somtochukwu

FOR THE RECORD!

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF GOVERNOR IFEANYI UGWUANYI’S DEVELPOMENT STRIDES IN ENUGU STATE, AMID CHALLENGES 

On May 29, 2020, the people-oriented and visionary administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State marked its 5th Anniversary. On August 27, 2020, the Coal City State celebrated the 29th Anniversary of its creation. The epoch making events presented a veritable opportunity to reappraise the governor’s giant strides anchored on peace and good governance, despite the avalanche of challenges befalling the state and the country.

The Economic Confidential in its 2019 Annual States Viability Index, released on July 26, 2020, listed Enugu among the six (6) economically viable states in Nigeria that can survive without federal allocations. Listed alongside Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Kwara and Kaduna as viable states, Enugu, which, according to the index report, generated N31 billion compared to Federation Account Allocation (FAA) of N103 billion representing 29 percent, was good enough to beat all oil producing states except Rivers.  

A few months ago, precisely on May 22, 2020, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) published its 2019 states’ ranking in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). One of the states which recorded impressive performances, according to the report, was Enugu.

Enugu State, with no oil, was the 9th best performing state in terms of IGR. Its slightly over N31billion was also good enough to beat all oil producing states except Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom.

Prior to these remarkable ratings, Enugu State was rated by the World Bank Group as the second most advanced state in Nigeria on the Ease of Doing Business and third on the Ease of Starting Business. The state was listed by BudgIT alongside Lagos and Rivers as the only three states out of the 36 states of the federation that have fulfilled obligations to their workers. It was also listed among the seven states that are solvent with impressive over 30 percent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund additional economic activities, by Economic Confidential. Equally of note is the report of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria, which listed Enugu as the fifth most competitive state in Nigeria, and the third most debt sustainable state in Nigeria. It is also on record that Enugu was rated as the first state in Nigeria to publish its Audited State Final Account for three consecutive years; first in the South East geo-political zone and ninth in the country based on IGR as against federal allocation.

What makes these records outstanding is that just four years earlier when Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State took over the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2015, the country was in recession, following the drastic drop in crude oil prices in the international market. 

Consequently, the state with its lean resources was confronted with paucity of funds, high inherited debt profile and other huge wage bills to be serviced. The economic realities were daunting that many were of the opinion that it was not the best time to be a governor.

The country’s economic challenges adversely affected the states’ allocations from the federation account, to the extent that there were limited funds to attend to development issues and other sundry needs of the public. 

Enugu’s purse grew leaner as federal allocations dwindled to an all-time low – a source of worry the past governor of the state, Mr. Sullivan Chime acknowledged during a thanksgiving Mass to commemorate the end of his administration.

This posed a serious threat to the speedy actualisation of the governor’s vision for the state as contained in his administration’s four-point agenda.

The situation was so dire that 27 states, excluding Enugu, could not pay workers’ salaries, let alone embark on capital projects. One by one, governors resorted to bailout funds unlike their predecessors who had access to the excess crude oil funds which enabled them to execute capital projects.

Despite all the challenges, Ugwuanyi remained undaunted and focused in his vision to build the Enugu State of the founding fathers’ dream, where everybody irrespective of class, religion or political association is given equal right and access to dividends of democracy, in a peaceful and secure environment.

Consequently, his administration has been championing an unprecedented rural development drive which has made it possible for the rural dwellers and the long-neglected communities to enjoy democracy dividends in a way they have never experienced before.

But five years down the line, Gov. Ugwuanyi through his sound vision, administrative ingenuity, peace and good governance initiatives, has turned the tide for the better. The results of his sheer dexterity and commitment are evident in his five-year stewardship, some of which are highlighted below:

ROADS:
*Constructed/rehabilitated over 600km of roads across the state, mostly in the rural areas.
*Rehabilitated and remodeled the ancient, historic and undulating 11km Milliken Hill-Ngwo-9th Mile road.
*Constructed the 12km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway up to University of Nigeria (UNN) gate
*Constructed the Ebonyi River Bridge, Ikem
*Constructed the 31km Udenu Ring road with two high-tech bridges
*Rehabilitated the Iva Valley roads in Enugu North LGA
*Constructed the 8.8km Nkalagu-Eha Amufu road in Isi-Uzo LGA, neglected for over 35 years
*The construction of the 26.66km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene Ajima-Eziani road in Uzo-Uwani LGA (RAMP-2)
*The construction of the 22.443km Neke-Mbu-Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti inter-community road linking Isi-Uzo and Udenu LGAs (RAMP-2)

* The 16km erosion ravaged Eha-Ulo/Eha-Etiti/Eha-Ndiagu-Mbu road and 24km Premier Junction-Umabor-Mbu road (RAMP-2), covering 40km, being constructed across thick forests and difficult terrains.

*The ongoing 8.580km road project linking Ihe with Ogbaku Town in Awgu Local Government Area (RAMP-2)
*Constructed the 13km Nike Lake junction-Harmony Estate-Amorji Nike-Adoration Pilgrimage Centre-Orie Emene road linking the ever-busy Abakpa Nike with Emene satellite town in Enugu East LGA
*Reconstructed the Nike Lake Road and Abakpa Nike Road in Enugu East LGA, which were marred by traffic gridlock in the past
*Constructed the Amaeke-Ngwo-Nsude-9th Mile and Amankwo-Amaeke-Amah Brewery Junction-9th Mile bypasses in Udi LGA
*Reconstructed the Airport Roundabout/Orie-Emene/St. Patrick’s College/Eke-Obinagu Road in Enugu East LGA
*Reconstructed the Enugu Road (Nsukka) Junction-Umuezebi-Nru Junction-University Gate road, the Post Office Roundabout-Odenigbo Roundabout-Ogurugu Road-Ikenga road and the Obechara Road Junction-Umakashi-Mechanic Village-Ikenga Hotels Junction road, all in the University town of Nsukka.
*Constructed the 8.2km Inyi-Akpugoeze road in Oji River LGA
*Constructed the Ituku Road in Awgu LGA and the Amurri road in Nkanu West LGA
*Simultaneously executed 35 grassroots development projects across the 17 LGAs
*Rehabilitated urban and rural roads in Emene, Abakpa-Nike, 9th Mile Corner and the University town of Nsukka
*Rehabilitated more internal roads in the University town of Nsukka, covering over 11km.
*Rehabilitated the old UNTH-Bunker road, Enugu; constructed the Holy Trinity Street -Bishop Michael Eneje Street, Independence Layout; Mount Crescent, GRA; Orofia Street, off Nza Street, Independence Layout; Dental School-Tipper Garage road Trans Ekulu, Enugu; Ugwuaji-Loma Linda-Timber Shed road, Maryland, Enugu; Nwafia Street, Independence Layout; Mbanefo Street, New Haven; The Secretariat Road, G.R.A; Court Avenue by new State Secretariat; Ibuza Street at Independence Layout; Isi Uzo Street at Independence Layout; Owerri Road; Poly Clinic Road, Asata; Carter Street, off Ogui Road, etc.

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