Founding fathers of Ebonyi State and other stakeholders have urged Governor Francis Nwifuru to prioritise the sustainability and long-term impact of infrastructure projects over frequent commissioning ceremonies, as they inspected ongoing and completed projects across the state ahead of its 30th anniversary.
The stakeholders gave the advice during an inspection tour led by Nwifuru, which covered major educational, residential, transportation and commercial infrastructure being executed by the state government.
According to a statement by the Governor’s Special Assistant on Documentation, Dr Boniface Nwankwo, the tour provided the founding fathers, members of the Elders Council and other stakeholders with an opportunity to assess the scale, quality and progress of the projects.
The stakeholders, while commending the administration for the range of infrastructure being developed, urged the governor to consolidate the gains and ensure that the projects deliver sustainable benefits to present and future generations.
They maintained that the ultimate measure of development should be the enduring value of public infrastructure rather than the number of projects commissioned.
Among the major projects inspected was the Ebonyi State University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering in Ezza, where the delegation observed 17 large structures at various stages of completion.
The facilities include staff and students’ accommodation, faculty buildings and other structures intended to support academic activities. According to the statement, the institution is expected to commence academic activities in the first quarter of 2027.
The delegation also visited the Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology at Oferekpe, Agbaja, where 25 structures were reported to be at various stages of development.
The Professor Fidelis Ogah Senior Staff Quarters at the institution has been completed, furnished and commissioned by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
The university’s Senate Building was also highlighted during the tour, alongside accommodation for principal officers, staff and students, faculty buildings and other supporting facilities.
The institution is preparing to admit its second cohort of students, the statement said.
The inspection team subsequently visited the 140-unit Senator Chris Nwankwo Reward Estate, where finishing works were said to be nearing completion.
The estate is intended for allocation to Ebonyi indigenes recognised for their contributions and achievements in their respective professions, trades and fields of endeavour.
At VANCO Junction in Abakaliki, the governor briefed the delegation on the design and strategic importance of the proposed flyover, which he said was scheduled for completion and commissioning by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
Other projects inspected included the emerging Ebonyi Hotel, the 10-storey Trade Centre complex along the Offia-Nwali Flyover corridor, the Odomoke–Ekebeligwe–Isophumini–Nwori Road, the three-span Ekebeligwe Bridge, the Izhiogo Tunnel with Overpass and the Izhiogo–Oferekpe Road.
The projects form part of the administration’s infrastructure programme, which the governor has said is guided by his People’s Charter of Needs philosophy.
Responding to the stakeholders’ observations, Nwifuru reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing the needs and aspirations of the people through sustained development interventions.
The inspection tour formed part of activities surrounding the 30th anniversary of Ebonyi State’s creation, providing an opportunity for the state’s founding fathers to assess developments since its establishment.
For the stakeholders, the tour also underscored the need to translate infrastructure investments into tangible public benefits through durability, effective utilisation and sustained maintenance.
The governor’s administration is expected to continue pursuing projects across the education, transport, housing and commercial sectors as part of its development agenda.
