News Investigators/ Uche Nnaji, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, has promised to establish three major industries in the state within two years if elected in 2027.
Mr Nnaji made the promise during a consultative campaign tour to visit Enugu State indigenes residing in Aba, Abia, according to a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr Robert Ngwu, in Enugu.
He said the proposed industries would focus on coal processing, iron ore utilisation and cement production as part of efforts to industrialise the state and create employment opportunities.
The PDP candidate expressed concern over what he described as “worsening hunger, insecurity and declining economic activities in rural communities across Enugu.
He lamented that markets in some villages had closed, alleging that traders now operated at night to avoid paying taxes.
“So many people do not know what is happening. Markets in the villages have closed, with traders now coming out only at night to avoid paying taxes,” he said.
Mr Nnaji also expressed concern over the alleged resurgence of armed robbery, saying criminals had returned to operating between midnight and 4 a.m., breaking into homes and other places to steal food and valuables.
He said the situation reflected the level of hunger and economic hardship confronting residents of the state.
Mr Nnaji said his industrialisation plan would focus on harnessing the state’s coal and iron ore deposits, particularly in Awhum, Nachi and the Nsukka axis.
He alleged that large quantities of coal were being evacuated from Awhum without commensurate benefits to the host community.
“Today, if you go to Awhum, more than 100 trailers of coal are evacuated from the community every night. What does that tell you?
“It means our people will suffer the consequences in the future because they are getting nothing in return.
“There is no social responsibility to the community,” he said.
Mr Nnaji said his proposed administration would establish an industry to process coal locally and another to harness iron ore deposits stretching from Nachi to the Nsukka area for the production of iron rods.
“We want to establish an industry that will process coal directly.
“We also want to establish an industry to harness the huge iron ore deposits stretching from Nachi to the Nsukka area.
“This will enable us to produce iron rods locally,” he said.
The candidate added that cement production was also part of his industrialisation agenda, although he expressed reservations about pursuing the project under the prevailing political and economic circumstances.
“We will also look at cement production. We know where the raw materials are, but we cannot venture into that now because of the attitude of those in power,” he added.
Welcoming Mr Nnaji and other PDP candidates at the event, the Chairman of the Enugu State Consultative Forum, Abia Chapter, Sunday Okonkwo, pledged the support of Enugu indigenes residing in Abia for the candidates.
Mr Okonkwo said the forum, comprising sons, daughters and wives of Enugu indigenes living in Abia, considered itself a stakeholder in the political and developmental affairs of the state.
He said the visit demonstrated the importance of maintaining ties between Enugu indigenes living outside the state and those at home.
“As Enugu people living in Abia, we are happy that our brothers who seek to serve our state have remembered us. You have shown that Enugu is one, whether at home or in the diaspora.
“We in Abia may be living outside our state, but Enugu is our home.
“The pain of Enugu is our pain, and the progress of Enugu is our progress,” he said.
Mr Okonkwo described Nnaji as a successful businessman and job creator, expressing confidence in his industrialisation agenda and promise to reduce the tax burden on residents.
He said Enugu needed practical solutions to challenges such as unemployment, insecurity, poor roads and excessive taxation.
Mr Okonkwo assured that members of the forum would mobilise support among their relatives and other Enugu indigenes at home ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We are not spectators. We are stakeholders.
“We will support, we will mobilise, and we will send our voices back home. We are not just supporters in Abia State; we are ambassadors and canvassers,” Nnaji added.
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