By:
Okeke Ruphina A.
FPO/HND/MC/015/149
Ugwuanyi, at the Federal Government
organized Town Hall Meeting for political, religious, judicial, civil society, socio-cultural
groups, called on President Muhammad Buhari to redeem his campaign promises to
the people of Enugu.
The governor revealed that the call
became necessary, following the sustained poor power supply in the country.
Ugwuanyi said the situation was discouraging investments and as a result, he is
urging the Federal Government to make substantial investment in the Ugwuoba Gas
Field in Oji River Local Government of the state. His words: “I recall the
President’s campaign promise to revive the coal mines in Enugu and utilize it
to generate electricity. Coal is a major energy source in some countries of the
world and we have it in abundance in the state. If this is done, it will
directly or indirectly create jobs for millions of Nigerians. “Work at the Ada
Rice Farm Irrigation Project started by the Federal Government in the state in
2007, has since stopped at the site. This project is critical and important to
the state government, following efforts to diversify the economy and make the
country self-sufficient in rice production. “Of very critical importance to us
is the Ada Rice Farm in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area. The project has the
capacity for low gravity irrigation and has the potential of expansion to cover
10,000 hectares. “Unfortunately, only 1,200 hectares of irrigable land have
been fully developed. The Federal Government started the rehabilitation of the
project in 2007. Sadly, progress in this regard has been slow. “The Federal
Government should re-evaluate the project to make it fully functional, to
provide employment and boost economic activities in the area”. Continuing,
Ugwuanyi stated that some Federal Government agencies in the state were
indebted to it and contributed to its financial stress. Ugwuanyi said: “The
government of the state will in this regard appreciate the intervention of the
Federal Government to ensure the payment of huge debts owed the state by some
federal agencies and establishments in the state. “They are the University of
Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the
Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, which owe N2.3 billion, N10 billion
and N190 million respectively in tax returns.
The demands seemed endless but
hopefully, the Buhari led government will attend to some of the appeals
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