…Approves New Cement Plant, Housing Reforms
Date: 22 July, 2026
By Abraham Ovuoba
ABAKALIKI – The Ebonyi State Executive Council (EXCO) has approved major policy reforms and investment initiatives following Governor Francis Nwifuru’s official visit to China, including a new cement factory, a waste-to-energy project, housing reforms and stricter regulation of the scrap business.
Briefing journalists after the emergency EXCO meeting, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Ikeuwa Omebeh, alongside the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Uruchi Odoh, and Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Business Development, Chief Oguzor Offia-Nwali, said the decisions were aimed at accelerating industrialisation and improving the state’s business environment.
Offia-Nwali announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with China’s Jiangsu Pengfei Group Limited to build a 6,000-tonnes-per-day cement plant in Nkalagu.
He said the state opted for a brand-new factory instead of reviving the moribund NigerCem, disclosing that the Ibeto Group demanded about $800 million as counterpart funding for rehabilitation, a proposal the government rejected.
According to him, the new plant, powered by CNG and coal with a dedicated 60-megawatt power station, will be completed within 27 months after geological investigations.
On energy, Dr. Odoh said EXCO also ratified an agreement with a Chinese firm to establish a 15-20 megawatt waste-to-energy plant, to be financed, built and operated by the investor at no cost to the state except land.
He further disclosed that EXCO approved a bill to regulate property agents by capping agency fees at two per cent of total rent, following complaints of excessive charges.
Another bill was approved to regulate the buying, selling and transportation of scrap metals through registration and profiling of operators to curb vandalism and illegal activities.
EXCO also directed the Attorney-General to conclude the termination of abandoned 2-kilometre road contracts and constituted monitoring committees across the 13 local government areas to ensure completion of affected projects.
In the education sector, the council approved plans to establish a digital camera and electronics manufacturing facility at ICT University, Oferekpe, alongside a dedicated power plant for the institution.
The council also approved the establishment of Ebonyi State Herbal Heritage Gardens in the three senatorial zones to promote research, standardise herbal medicine and integrate certified traditional medicine into primary healthcare.
The commissioners expressed confidence that the agreements reached during the governor’s China trip would stimulate industrial growth, attract investors and create jobs across the state.
