Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and Hon Stephen Chinonso Egbe, former Aspirant for Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
The Special Assistant to the Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area on Youth Mobilization, Hon. Stephen Chinonso Egbe, has lauded Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for constituting a high-powered committee to revive the Nigeria Cement Company (NIGERCEM) located in Nkalagu.
Egbe, a former aspirant for the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, described the move as timely and visionary, stating that it would transform the economic and social landscape of Ishielu and the state at large.
Speaking in Abakaliki on Sunday, Egbe said: “This bold decision by Governor Nwifuru will raise a lot of youths from death—death in the form of idleness, poverty, and hopelessness and will go a long way in curtailing crimes in Ishielu. The reactivation of NIGERCEM will open wider opportunities for job creation and promote self-reliance across the state and beyond.”
Egbe's remarks followed Governor Nwifuru’s announcement on Sunday during a church service at the Government House Chapel, Abakaliki, where the governor inaugurated a 15-member committee tasked with developing a roadmap for the factory's revival.
The committee, which included notable personalities such as Mrs. Catherine Ogbu, Prof. Adline Idike, Hon. Iduma Igariwey, and Barr. Roy Umahi (SAN), among others, was given a two-week deadline to engage with key investors and submit concrete recommendations for the resumption of operations at the moribund cement plant.
Governor Nwifuru, while constituting the committee, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to industrial development, noting that reviving NIGERCEM was one of his campaign promises to the people of Nkalagu.
“I assured the community that the factory would be brought back to life within my first tenure, and I remain committed to fulfilling that promise,” he said.
The governor also disclosed plans for broader economic reforms, including land allocations at the Ezzangbo Industrial City to investors with credible proposals for factory development.
He directed the Ministry of Capital City Development to ensure strict adherence to Abakaliki’s original master plan by property developers.
Furthermore, Governor Nwifuru announced that a town hall meeting would be held with stakeholders to gather input and fine-tune strategies for realizing the state’s industrial ambitions.
Egbe, reacting further, urged all stakeholders, especially the youths, to support the administration’s initiative, saying, “With NIGERCEM back to life, a new dawn of economic empowerment and peace will emerge for our people.”
NIGERCEM, once a major economic driver in the Southeast, has been comatose for years following ownership and operational crises, resulting in massive job losses and economic stagnation in its host community.
