– By Humphrey Onyima
During his campaign round the local governments of Enugu State circa 2014, the man then known as Rt. Honourable Ugwuanyi, member representing Igboeze North and Udenu Federal Constituency, was about to enter a social contract with the people of Enugu.
Many wrote him off, others liked his courage.
He emerged his party’s consensus candidate and, by the time May 2015 rolled around, he was taking oath of office to be governor of one of the core states of southeastern Nigeria.
Just before he assumed office, he assured the people of the state that he would focus on his four-point agenda of employment generation, social services & good governance, rural development, security and social justice.
It has been six years since those grand promises were made. How has he fared?
Education:
In May 2018, in line with the Enugu State government’s policy in education and the need to discover and assist intellectuals in the rural areas, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi granted scholarships to 340 indigent students of the Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state.
The Ugwuanyi administration selected 20 indigent students from each of the 17 local government areas to benefit from the scholarship scheme which will, in turn, cover their tuition fees for four years of study at a total cost of N41.6 million.
Speaking during the maiden engineering day commemoration at the institution, where he inaugurated the newly constructed School of Engineering Complex sponsored by Prince Arthur Eze and laid foundation for the construction of Prof. Julius Onah School of Management Technology, the governor disclosed that the cardinal principle of the educational policy of his administration was the provision of access to qualitative education at all levels to all classes and strata of the society.
In April 2018, the Enugu State Executive Council (EXCO) said it approved N2,572,686,367 for the immediate construction of new class room blocks and renovation of dilapidated structures in primary and junior secondary schools under the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB).
Also, the council, in keeping with the four-point agenda of Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration on quality education and workers’ welfare, approved N271 million as bail-out fund to Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) to enable the institution offset the remaining seven months monetization arrears owed its workers.
The council further approved and directed the speedy relocation of the Enugu State College of Education Technical from its temporary site in Enugu urban to the permanent site in Ihe, Awgu Local Government Area now upgraded as University of Education. It further approved N14.6 million for the clearing of the site, erection of perimeter fence and creation of access road in the new site.
In December 2017, the state government released the sum of N184 million for the upgrade of the Mpu Youth Centre in Aninri Local Government Area, earlier approved by the Chief of Army Staff for the establishment of Army Command Technical College.
Ugwuanyi’s administration has recruited over 2000 primary school teachers under the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) to improve the learning standard. It is also recruiting 2000 secondary school teachers through the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB), in addition to the 857 volunteer teachers (engaged during the past administration) who were recently regularized as permanent staff of the state government under the PPSMB.
The administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has approved and directed the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) to recruit additional 1,500 primary school teachers to enhance basic education in the state.
It is on record that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration had recruited over 4000 teachers since its inception, to create jobs and improve the standard of learning in the state.
The administration also approved the sum of N252,456,917.67 (two hundred and fifty two million, four hundred and fifty six thousand, nine hundred and seventeen naira, sixty seven kobo) for the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) to pursue the re-accreditation of the institution’s courses whose prior accreditation had expired.
Internally generated revenue:
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.
In May 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 Southeast geo-political zone and ninth in the country based on IGR as against federal allocation.
What makes these records outstanding is that when Ugwuanyi took oath of office on May 29, 2015, the country was in recession, following the drastic drop in crude oil prices in the international market.
Infrastructure & Empowerment:
Inspite of the bleak economic realities in the country, the administration has been able to execute verifiable massive road projects both in the urban and rural areas across the state covering over 300 kilometers of intra and inter-state roads – an unbeatable feat in the annals of the state. It has also recorded tremendous feat in the maintenance of infrastructure built by past administrations, such as failed portions of roads, street and traffic lights, notwithstanding different cannibalisation suffered in the hands of vandals.
For more effective operation of street lights in Enugu, the present administration recently procured 25-unit 60 KVA generating sets, which are installed to replace the aged ones in Enugu metropolis as well as fresh installation in the University town of Nsukka. This was in addition to the 10 units of 200 KVA generators earlier procured to replace the ones that had been in use for over seven years.
The state government has equally completed some hitherto uncompleted projects, such as the Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, among others. Between 2017 and 2018 Ugwuanyi’s administration awarded multiple contracts for road projects worth over N4.6 billion in continuation of its massive infrastructure rehabilitation campaign across the nooks and crannies of Enugu State. Also worthy of commendation is the breakthrough recorded by the government in ridding Enugu metropolis of waste, especially at dump sites to ensure a clean environment, through the taskforce constituted to complement the efforts of the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA).
In keeping with his inaugural address to pay a special attention to rural development, in recognition of the fact that majority of the people of the state live in the rural areas, the state government in October 2017, introduced the Choose-Your-Project policy, where stakeholders of every local government area in the state identified their priority project worth not less than N100 million for the government to execute for them. This unprecedented policy saw to the successful simultaneous execution of phase one of the 35 development projects across the 17 councils in the state.
In addition to this was the N10 million worth of project for every community in the state under the Visit Every Community (VEC) programme, which the first tranche of N5 million released by the government and the second tranche released upon start of the project. The uniqueness of this people-oriented programme, which was duly approved by the State Executive Council, is that it is a special development policy that has never featured in the state as each community will decide the project it would want to execute with the money for the overall interest of the people of the area. It ensured that so many communities that had never experienced any development project in their areas benefited, guarantying government presence in all the over 400 autonomous communities in the state. One appreciates the fact that while all these capital intensive projects were ongoing, the governor pay workers’ salaries and retirees’ pensions on the 23rd of every month and still went further to pay the 13th month salary to civil servants of the state as Christmas bonus.
On investment drive, Ugwuanyi’s administration since after the first ever Enugu State Economic Summit tagged “Oganiru” has witnessed inflow of investors who are showing interest to do business with the state. The impact of this vision is evident in the just completed HELIU Estate project in Enugu and the Lion Business Park driven by a Chinese Investment Company in partnership with the state government under a Public Private Partnership (PPA) initiative to build an industrial market on a 2000 hectares of land located in the proximity of the Enugu Industrial Park – FTZ (ENPOWER Free Trade Zone) at the 9th Mile Corner, modelled after the Dragon Market in Dubai.
In November 2015, during his first year in office, his administration flagged off the mass construction of five roads in Enugu North senatorial zone.
The roads are Opi-Nsukka dual carriage way, Obechara road junction – Umuakashi Mechanic Village – Ikenga Hotels Junction and the Post Office roundabout – Odenigbo round about – Ogurugu road – Ikenga Hotels junction and the Enugu road Nsukka junction – Umezebi – Nru junction – University gate, all within the university town of Nsukka. The others include Ohom Orba junction – Imilike Ani – Ezimo Uno – Ezimo Agu – Imilike Ogbodu Aba – Obollo Afor Roads, all designated as Udenu ring roads as they are located within Udenu council area and are linked one to the other.
Driven by the vision and passion to stamp his feet on the sands of time, Ugwuanyi’s administration awarded contracts for the construction of six major roads across the state at the sum of N2.4 billion, covering the Eha-Amufu-Nkalagu federal road at Isi-Uzo LGA which has been in a deplorable condition for over 35 years of neglect.
Other roads include the extension of the Agbani-Afor Amurri road; the extension of Ituku road; the construction of Ogonogoeji Ndi Agu Akpugo road (Atavu Bailey Bridge –Afor Onovo); the construction of 42-metre span Bailey bridge and road works across river Nyama to Amechi-Linking Umuogo and Umuagba Amechi Uno/ Obinagu community, all in Nkanu West L.G.A.
The Agbani-Amurri road in Nkanu West LGA, newly constructed for a community that has never experienced any form of development on its land in the past 100 years, and also the Ogonogoeji-Ndiagu-Akpugo road (from Atavu bailey bridge to Afor Onovo), in the same council, has a historic and symbolic attraction as the first state government road project in the entire Akpugo zone since the creation of Enugu State.
Consequently, Emene, Abakpa Nike, 9th Mile Corner and Nsukka – a University town founded over half a century ago and the second largest town in the state, among other satellite towns, got the fair share on the development of the areas as a matter of priority. A committee on Enugu State Urban Renewal was systematically constituted that ensure the full actualization of the governor’s well-thought-out programmes in line with the four-point agenda, despite the nation’s economic reality.
It is remarkable to note that 56 years after three fire service stations were built in Enugu State, then Eastern Region, Gov. Ugwuanyi who is always passionate and committed to the safety and wellbeing of the people, is currently constructing five new ultra-modern fire service stations across the three senatorial zones, strategically located in Four-Corner, Ozalla, Nkanu West LGA; Ogrute, Igbo Eze North LGA; 9thMile Corner, Udi LGA; Orba, Udenu LGA and Oji, Oji River LGA.
Still in the years under review, the state government introduced a programme on aggressive road maintenance in Enugu metropolis tagged: “Operation Zero Potholes”. It has also been consistent in the maintenance of street and traffic lights as well as other facilities such as the bus-stop shelters. In addition to this, 1000 youths have been recently recruited under the Enugu Clean Team Project to enhance and sustain the State’s rating as one of the healthier and cleanest cities in the country.
The state government has equally executed numerous development projects in the urban area, such as the Holy Trinity Street and Bishop Michael Eneje Street, Independence Layout, Enugu; Mount Crescent, GRA, Enugu; Orofia Street, off Nza Street, Independence Layout, Enugu; Dental School – Tipper Garage road, Trans Ekulu, Enugu; Loma Linda- Timber Shed road, Maryland, Enugu; Nwafia Street, Independence Layout, Enugu; Mbanefo Street, New Haven, Enugu.
Others include; the Secretariat Road, G.R.A, Enugu; Court Avenue by new State Secretariat, Enugu; Ibuza Street at Independence Layout, Enugu; Isi Uzo Street at Independence Layout, Enugu; Owerri Road and Poly Clinic Road, Asata, Enugu; Renovation of the Enugu State House of Assembly Complex and rehabilitation and re-asphalting of the popular Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, and a host of others.
In 2017, in keeping with his administration’s drive to open up more rural areas to enhance the well-being of the people of the state, Ugwuanyi flagged off construction of four rural roads in the state, measuring over 10km at the cost of almost N1 billion.
In February 2018, the Enugu State Executive Council (EXCO) awarded contracts for the construction of another set of urban and rural roads worth over N1billion, in keeping with the state government’s infrastructural development initiatives and its resolve to continue to touch the lives of the people positively. This was a week after contracts were awarded for the construction of six major roads across the state at the sum of N2.4 billion, covering the Eha-Amufu-Nkalagu federal road at Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, which has been in a deplorable condition.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration reconstructed and modernised the historic and undulating Milliken Hill Road, Ngwo, with street lights for the first time since it was constructed in 1909 during the colonial era. The all-important three-kilometre Milliken Hill section of the road is part of the 12-kilometre 9th Mile – Ekochin-Ngwo-Milliken Hill – New Market federal road, recently rehabilitated by the state government, as an alternative route for travellers plying the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway.
It is on record that the present administration in Enugu State has so far spent over N45 billion on road infrastructures across the state.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration keeps faith with its resolve to complete the hitherto abandoned Enugu International Conference Centre, for the actualization of its inherent socio-economic benefits to the state, as the roofing of the edifice nears completion, for the next phase of intervention. In furtherance of its concerted efforts to ensure the completion of the abandoned Enugu International Conference Centre, has approved the procurement and installation of external glass at the main auditorium of the edifice.
The administration also approved that the installation will be extended to the mini dome at the centre and extension works on the ongoing Court of Appeal building to accommodate the litigation/administrative office and basement. Engr. Nnaji disclosed that his ministry had installed street lights around the located areas of the International Conference Centre to provide security and “allow work at night.
Again, Gov. Ugwuanyi led administration approved the extension of Ibagwa-Aka-Alor Agu road and additional erosion control works along Ngwo Adaba General Hospital, Ichi road and Ibagwa-Ichi-Unadu-Alor Agu road all in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area.
In April 2018, 536 trainees of the second batch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Skill Acquisition Programme of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration instantly received alert of N100,000 seed money each from the state government. The money is to assist them start off their various businesses after attending a one-year free vocational training.
Also briefing newsmen recently in Enugu, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Rita Mbah, disclosed that the Enugu State government had approved a free training of 200 youths in the state in film and creativity. She pointed out that the state government will sponsor the participation of the 200 youths in the training programme, which is being organized by the popular African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
The aim of the government’s involvement was to ensure that talented youths in creativity, who are interested in film industry, garner experience in the basic rudiments of movie making, acting, script writing and production, marketing, among others, to make them self-reliant and also targeted at giving the participants the opportunity to learn how to write proposals after training, to access part of the N500 million loan earmarked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the creative industry.
It is remarkable to note that 56 years after three fire service stations were built in Enugu State, Ugwuanyi, as a manifestation of his commitment to safety and well-being of the people, he undertook the construction of five, new, strategically-located ultra-modern fire service stations across three senatorial zones strategically located in Four-Corner, Ozalla, Nkanu West LGA; Ogrute, Igbo Eze North LGA; 9thMile Corner, Udi LGA; Orba, Udenu LGA and Oji, Oji River LGA.
Sports:
In October 2018 reclaimed Rangers’ lost glory after 35-years winning the Federation Cup. Rangers won the Federation cup last in 1983.
Again, another milestone achievement in Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration, Enugu Rangers FC won the 2015/2016 NPFL trophy after 32 years.
Rangers won the Federation Cup five times in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1983, narrowly loss to FC Ifeanyi Ubah in 2016 final played in Lagos. History was made at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on the 24th of October, 2018 when Enugu Rangers lifted the trophy after beating Kano Pillars of Kano State 4-2 on penalties shoot out. The feat came after 35 years of struggle.
Security and Judicial Reform:
Governor Ugwuanyi stated that his administration has made frantic efforts towards ensuring the security and welfare of the people of the state.
Since assuming office in 2015 has done a lot for the judiciary in terms of critical reforms and infrastructural development. The landmark achievements being witnessed in the sector have placed Enugu State ahead of other states in the country.
The Enugu state Justice Reform received a standing ovation for its numerous trail blazing achievements in the Justice sector, thus, Ebonyi state Reform Team which is still in its embryonic stage has applied to understudy the ESJRT.
Governor Ugwuanyi has generously assisted the judicial sector through the approval of a monthly running cost for the team to enable it discharge its duties effectively, adding that he has been constantly granting them audience to dialogue on issues of state importance.
The Chief Registrar, Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Tom Anyafulude described Gov. Ugwuanyi as “the most pragmatic governor in the area of criminal law reform.” “We marvel that when your numerous achievements are being enumerated in the state, nobody talks or remembers your positive contributions in transforming the judiciary, the establishment of that multi-door court building by your administration, among other lofty efforts. You have made our judiciary a force to reckon with in the area of justice delivery.”
Health:
Enugu State Government has nullified the district health system and adopted the World Health Organisation (WHO) system as part of efforts to reposition its health sector for better healthcare services delivery.
In February 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) congratulated Governor Ugwuanyi for the remarkable growth and success attained by the Primary Healthcare system in the state, in providing affordable and qualitative healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
Speaking during the flag-off of the rescheduled second round of 2017 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Enugu, the representative of the organisation in charge of Measles prevention, Mrs. Eunice Ajayi, expressed delight at Gov. Ugwuanyi’s commitment to quality healthcare delivery.
Ugwuanyi’s efforts to reposition the state’s health sector for efficient delivery of better healthcare services has nullified the district health system and adopted that of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In February 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) congratulated Ugwuanyi for the remarkable growth and success attained by the primary healthcare system in the state, in providing affordable and qualitative healthcare at the grassroots, underlined by the release of the sum of N12.4 million for the anti-measles’ campaign.
The administration of Ugwuanyi has set things in motion to get rid of all financial barriers, so as to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) get true access to medical treatment (no card fees, consultation fees and charges for basic laboratory investigations).
So dedicated is Ugwuanyi to this cause that, during the launch of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Surge Response in the state, he declared that his administration remains “desirous of expanding the HIV Antiretroviral Therapy by enhancing case-finding through provision of more Rapid HIV Test Kits to enable new cases benefit from treatment programme supported by United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”.
Also, besides inaugurating the Poly General Hospital, Asata (Enugu north local government) and Udi General Hospital (Udi local government area), reconstructed, upgraded and equipped by his administration to provide qualitative secondary healthcare delivery for the urban and rural population of the state.
The Ugwunyi administration inaugurated the upgraded Poly General Hospital (formerly known as Poly Clinic Asata).
The Poly General Hospital is one of the 7 hospitals providing qualitative secondary healthcare services to the people of the state, in addition to the 43 cottage hospitals and 390 public primary healthcare facilities that provide related medical services to the people of the state.
The state government has paid the mandatory N100m counterpart fund in fulfillment of its requirements for the take-off of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund that will enable all residents of the state to access healthcare services under the Universal Health Coverage scheme.
The state government granted approval to the management of the ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane to absorb 125 interns from different relevant fields of study and 102 resident doctors, in addition to continuous recruitment of consultants in different medical fields, accreditation related investments and provision of medical equipment to sustain the hospital’s capacity to offer top-notch medical services.
Other milestones in the sector include:
Completed the state-of-the-art Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, Enugu.
*Construction and renovation of district hospitals and health centres in the state, especially in the rural areas under the primary healthcare programme.
*Upgraded Udi District Hospital and Poly Clinic, Asata to General Hospitals, after their rehabilitation.
*Constructed a Tertiary Hospital in Igbo-Eno, Enugu North Senatorial District, to serve as one of the facilities for the ESUT College of Medicine that has been relocated to Nsukka.
*Massive construction/reconstruction of the Enugu State Infectious Disease Hospital, Enugu, formerly known as Colliery Hospital Enugu, for isolation and treatment of patients with infectious diseases.
*Intervened and integrated faith-based rural health facilities into the Free Maternal and Child Health Programme.
*Massive construction of 7 units of Type 3 Primary Health Care Centre in 7 LGAs, and upgrade and rehabilitation of the General Hospital Ogrute, Enugu Ezike, and Nsukka District Hospital, among others.
- Ongoing massive construction of a Specialist Hospital for the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Igbo-Eno, in Enugu North Senatorial District.
*Site clearing for the construction of 2 nos. 12-classroom faculty buildings, 2 nos. 10-classroom faculty buildings and 2 nos. 8-classroom faculty buildings, for the ESUT College of Medicine, in Igbo-Eno, adjacent to the Specialist Hospital, as well as the ongoing construction of industrial water borehole projects.
*Construction of Cottage Hospital with isolation wing in Awgu, Oji River, Ogrute (Enugu Ezike) General Hospitals, and also in Orba, Udenu LGA.
Since COVID-19 interrupted the year 2020 and tested the his administration skills at controlling the virus, it will be fitting to look at how it fared over the period.
*Released N350 million to the state’s COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Rapid Response Team.
*Establishment of Isolation and Treatment Centres for COVID-19 in Nsukka and the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu.
*Equipped the ultra-modern Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre and designated it as an isolation and treatment Centre.
*Massive reconstruction and construction of new structures at the Colliery Hospital, Enugu, now an Infectious Disease Isolation and Treatment Centre.
*Approved welfare packages for all health workers in the state as incentive to battle COVID-19.
*Purchased two additional ambulances and one incident vehicle
*Enforcement of the Presidential directives on nationwide curfew and inter-state movement restriction order.
*Rehabilitation of facilities and provision of essential supplies in 34 health facilities across the 17 LGAs, to scale up delivery of linked services and preparedness against community spread of COVID-19 pandemic by the Enugu State Save One Million Lives (SOML) Project.
*Life assurance policy for frontline workers.
*Distribution of palliatives to persons, vulnerable groups, poorest of the poor and religious groups.
*Granted tax relief and incentives to taxpayers in the state to cushion the adverse economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents, especially ordinary masses.
Agriculture, Water, Housing, Investment Promotion
In this sector, the Ugwuanyi administration has…
*Procured 20 tractors for mechanized agriculture
*Launched the Coal City Rice, Enugu – a highly sought-after staple in the South East and beyond.
Approved the establishment of two World Bank projects, namely IFAD and APPEALS programme for women and youths agricultural empowerment and pays the state’s counterpart funds regularly.
Rehabilitated facilities at Ajali and Oji River Water Treatment Schemes which has consequentially improved the supply of water to Enugu metropolis and its environs.
HELIU Residence project – a world class Residential Estate with infrastructure worth N25 billion embarked upon by the state government in partnership with Fit-Consult and China Shenyang International Economic and Technical Cooperation Limited, Shenyang, China through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to provide quality and affordable houses to address the accommodation deficit in Enugu because of high inflow of people into the state.
Site and services of Valley Estate, GRA, Enugu; WTC Estate; Victory Estate; Trinity Estate; Fidelity Estate adjacent to the popular Ebeano Tunnel with massive erosion /flood control work, Diamond Estate, Rangers Estate, among others.
*The Enugu Industrial Park – FTZ (ENPOWER Free Trade Zone) at the 9thMile Corner, Enugu, to be known as Lion Business Park, modeled after the Dragon Market in Dubai.
Prior to this time, it could suffice to say the jury is still out on Ugwuanyi. Not anymore.
Of course, he has come to be defined as someone who eschews issues and craves peace and this is what Enugu is known for; this is what Enugu needs.
As 2023 draws near, it is pertinent to point out that, it’d serve Ndi Enugu well if they elect another gem for the future, to continue the astoundingly great work which the Ugwuanyi administration has laid the foundation for.
Ndi Enugu cannot wait for their dear governor to be done with the social contract they signed and move onto bigger things in the national political sphere.
