Nkechinyere Ewa
The Member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Chinedu Ogah, has called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently intervene in the flood disaster affecting communities across Ebonyi State, particularly in Ikwo Local Government Area.
Ogah made the appeal on Monday in Abakaliki while interacting with journalists, expressing concern over the destruction of farmlands, residential buildings, household properties and other valuables belonging to affected residents.
He urged NEMA to urgently assess the affected communities and provide relief materials and other essential assistance to alleviate the suffering of victims and support their recovery.
The federal lawmaker also called on stakeholders and residents of Ebonyi State to support the establishment of a cement factory at Nkalagu in Ishielu Local Government Area, describing the project initiated by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as a strategic investment capable of boosting the state’s economy.
Ogah, who is the Ebonyi State Coordinator of the Tinubu Support Group, said the factory would create employment opportunities for youths, attract investments, stimulate industrial growth and potentially reduce the cost of building materials when completed.
He noted that Ebonyi had the raw materials and other resources needed to sustain cement production, stressing that the project offered an opportunity to strengthen the state’s economic base and create sustainable livelihoods.
The lawmaker warned against attempts to undermine the initiative, insisting that the factory should be regarded as a collective economic aspiration rather than the personal project of the governor.
“Any Ebonyi person trying to sabotage the dream of the state owning its cement factory and having our youths gainfully employed must be seen as an enemy of the state. The state is craving for an opportunity like this, and Governor Francis Nwifuru has brought it to our doorstep. There is a need for everyone to give him maximum support,” Ogah said.
He assured Governor Nwifuru of the commitment of Ebonyi’s representatives in the National Assembly to supporting the project and appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide the necessary assistance to facilitate its timely completion. He added that construction had commenced at the Nkalagu site.
Ogah dismissed claims that the cement factory was the governor’s personal project, maintaining that it was an initiative of the state government designed to advance the collective interests of the people. He urged those spreading what he described as misinformation about the project to desist.
The lawmaker also commended Nwifuru for appointing 1,720 persons as Special Advisers and Executive Assistants, describing the appointments as an effort to strengthen governance and broaden political participation across the state.
He further praised the governor’s interventions in communal conflicts that had claimed lives and destroyed property in some communities. According to him, the peace-building efforts had helped restore stability, facilitate the return of displaced residents and create a more conducive environment for development.
Ogah also commended President Tinubu for his efforts to transform the country and praised supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their continued commitment to the party’s programmes and development agenda.
Weekenders magazine sympathizes with the People of Ikwo and Ebonyi State in this trying times.