By Abraham Ovuoba
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, has expressed satisfaction with the quality and progress of major infrastructure projects being executed by the Ebonyi State Government under Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
The State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Nwafor Sampson, stated this on Monday during an inspection tour of government projects across parts of the state, organised as part of activities marking the 2026 NUJ Press Week, with the theme “2027: The Ballot, The Truth and The Future”.
Major projects inspected included the Ebonyi State ICT University at Opherekpe-Agbaja, Nwofe-Agbaja Flyover, remodelled Trade Fair Centre, now Ebonyi International Hotel, Industrial Clusters, Vanco Flyover and Underground Tunnel, as well as several road projects within and outside Abakaliki metropolis.
Comrade Sampson said the exercise was designed to enable journalists to physically assess government projects and provide factual information to the public, in line with the media’s watchdog responsibility.
“We are impressed by what we have seen, ranging from the ICT University to the roads, industrial clusters and the remodeling of the Trade Fair Centre,” Sampson said. said.
At the ICT University, Sampson described the infrastructure as impressive, saying the institution had the potential to become a major centre for technology and innovation in Nigeria and Africa.
He, however, charged engineers and contractors handling government projects to maintain professional standards and execute projects in the interest of the people, stressing that public projects were funded with taxpayers’ money.
“Whatever project they are given to do for the state, they should do it believing that the service is not to Governor Nwifuru. That service is to the entire population of Ebonyi, whose taxpayers’ money they have been paid to use,” he said.
Speaking during the exercise, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, commended the NUJ for incorporating project monitoring into its Press Week activities.
Mbam said the administration’s performance should be assessed against the promises contained in the People’s Charter of Needs, highlighting road construction, bridges and urban renewal as areas of progress.
On the Vanco project, he explained that the facility comprised an underground tunnel, double-deck and bypass features and was expected to be completed by February 2027.
The inspection formed part of activities leading to the grand finale of the 2026 NUJ Press Week in Ebonyi State.
