Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has highlighted road construction, workers’ wages and the clearance of pension and gratuity arrears as key milestones of his administration as the state marks 30 years of creation.
Nwifuru, in his address to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and Ebonyi’s 30th anniversary, said his administration had completed more than 1,000 kilometres of roads across the state’s 13 local government areas.
He also disclosed that the government had sustained payment of the state’s ₦95,000 minimum wage and cleared pension and gratuity arrears owed retirees from the creation of the state in 1996.
The governor said the measures were part of his administration’s efforts to support workers and honour citizens who had served the state.
Beyond the wage and pension interventions, Nwifuru said the government had provided two-kilometre roads in communities, while urban renewal projects continued in Abakaliki, including the ongoing Vanco Flyover and Tunnel.
He said road construction equipment had also been procured to strengthen the Ministry of Works and provide opportunities for local engineers, artisans, technicians and other professionals.
On education, the governor said 39 model classroom blocks had been constructed across the 13 local government areas, alongside the provision of textbooks, reference materials, early-childhood education resources, furniture and other instructional facilities.
He added that the administration had invested in teachers and scholarship programmes for Ebonyi graduates studying within and outside the country.
Nwifuru also cited developments in tertiary institutions, including the completed Senate Building at the ICT University, Oferekpe Agbaja, eight three-storey hostel blocks and the Professor Fidelis Ogah Senior Staff Quarters.
He said work was ongoing on faculty buildings at the ICT and Aeronautic Engineering universities, as well as Law and Education faculty complexes at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.
In healthcare, the governor said his administration had strengthened primary and secondary healthcare through infrastructure upgrades, medical equipment, ambulances, recruitment of health personnel and expansion of health insurance coverage.
According to him, the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme recorded 394,387 encounter visits and 478,607 services utilised across accredited facilities between 2023 and 2026.
The services included antenatal care, malaria treatment, deliveries, hypertension screening and surgical procedures.
Nwifuru further disclosed that work had commenced on the new Abakaliki Cement Company as part of the administration’s industrialisation drive, with the project expected to create jobs and strengthen the state’s economy.
As Ebonyi reflects on three decades of statehood, the governor said his administration remained committed to building a prosperous, peaceful, productive and united state.
He acknowledged the contributions of past governors and leaders to the development of Ebonyi and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support.
Nwifuru also thanked members of the State House of Assembly, Executive Council, judiciary, religious and traditional institutions, women, youths and other citizens for their support.