The Ebonyi State Government has commenced the construction of a state-of-the-art building materials hub at Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, as part of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s sweeping industrialization agenda.
Disclosing this in Abakaliki, the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chief Oguzor Offia Nwali, described the facility as a one-stop center for high-grade building materials including metro tiles, aluminum zinc, HDF/MDF boards, interlocking blocks, and more. He said the factory is undergoing extensive renovation and equipment installation to meet modern standards.
“Even the blind will notice the transformation,” Nwali remarked, describing the initiative as a bold move toward industrial self-sufficiency.
The project complements other ongoing developments, including the revitalized Ebonyi Pipe Industry, now producing PVC, PPR, and HDPE pipes for water and construction systems. Nwali dismissed skeptics, affirming the factory is fully operational with imported, tested machinery.
In addition, over 1,300 Ebonyians have received ₦1 million each under a government empowerment initiative, with further support disbursed through EBSMEDA and the FUSI scheme. Indigenes in Lagos, Abuja, Anambra, and Abia also benefited, with about 500 receiving ₦2 million each.
Another major project, the Urban Industrial City, is also underway and will feature modern shops, warehouses, and hostels tailored for artisans and entrepreneurs trained under state programs.
Looking forward, Nwali disclosed feasibility studies are in progress for a salt processing plant, an iron and steel complex, a cement factory, and a cable manufacturing facility. He emphasized that despite federal ownership of mineral resources, Ebonyi intends to process locally via partnerships.
“We are the Salt of the Nation, yet we have no salt factory. That is going to change,” he said.
He also identified electricity supply as the biggest industrial challenge in Ebonyi but praised Governor Nwifuru for ongoing efforts to upgrade power infrastructure. “Once resolved, Ebonyi will dominate the industrial map of the Southeast,” he added.
Nwali concluded by noting his personal philanthropic efforts are driven by a deep sense of service: “It’s not about politics or publicity… this is my way of serving God—by making people happy.”
