By David Eze
The Presidency has commended the scale of infrastructure development in Ebonyi State, describing ongoing federal and state projects as evidence of the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and improved fiscal capacity for sub-national governments.
The commendation followed the conclusion of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Tour, conducted in collaboration with the Presidential Communications Team to inspect key development projects across the state.
Leading the delegation, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the team was impressed by the pace of infrastructure delivery and the ambitious nature of projects being executed across Ebonyi.
Among the projects inspected were sections of the Federal Government’s Trans-Sahara Superhighway linking Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as several state-funded projects in housing, education, healthcare and transportation.
The delegation also visited the 22-kilometre Izeagu-Azulu rural road, the ongoing Ebonyi Five-Star Hotel project in Abakaliki, the Vanco Junction twin flyover and tunnel project, civil servants’ housing estates, and other strategic infrastructure initiatives.
Speaking after the inspection, Onanuga praised the Ebonyi State Government for effectively deploying increased federal allocations to infrastructure development.
“The governor is doing very well. We have seen a massive improvement in Vanco Junction and the tunnel compared to August last year. What I saw today is a vast improvement over last year,” he said.
According to him, recent fiscal reforms have strengthened states’ capacity to undertake major projects without resorting to excessive borrowing.
He noted that many states previously struggled to execute development projects after meeting salary obligations but now have greater resources to invest in critical sectors.
Onanuga particularly commended the state’s investment in housing projects for civil servants, describing it as a significant step towards improving workers’ welfare and productivity.
“Ebonyi State, in particular, is dreaming big and doing big things. The state is conceiving projects it would never have thought of before and executing them without going to the bank to borrow money,” he stated.
The presidential aide also highlighted the state’s extensive rural road programme, saying improved connectivity is boosting agricultural activities, expanding access to markets and enhancing social services in rural communities.
Other projects inspected included the Ebonyi State University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering Science and Technology, the Ebonyi State University of Information and Communications Technology, Elengvubu General Hospital, and 140 housing units being constructed for displaced persons in Ameaze and Izzo communities of Ishielu Local Government Area.
The team also visited Kpakpaji Smart School and the ongoing 88-kilometre concrete pavement project on the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Expressway being executed by an indigenous contractor.
As part of the tour, members of the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Ezebrugbala III of the Ezzama Kingdom, Eze Charles Mkpuma, during which they reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening traditional institutions.
The Presidency said the projects inspected in Ebonyi reflect how increased revenues to states are being translated into tangible investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and housing, in line with the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
