By Grace Egbo, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has announced plans to establish a state-owned, self-financing cement factory designed to succeed the defunct NIGERCEM, marking one of the most ambitious industrial projects in the state’s history.
Nwifuru disclosed the plan on Monday during a civic engagement session at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, where he presented an unprecedented ₦884 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year, christened the “Budget of Actualisation and Hope.”
According to the governor, the cement project—expected to be funded through a ₦150 billion loan—will be structured to pay for itself.
“We agreed in council that this project will borrow money to fund itself from beginning to end. And this project will generate the same money to repay the loan,” he said, noting that geological evaluations were underway to identify the most viable location with sufficient limestone deposits.
More than 84 percent of the budget is dedicated to infrastructure and economic development. Nwifuru described the proposal as the most comprehensive in the state’s history, saying it followed a rigorous sector-by-sector assessment of Ebonyi’s developmental needs.
He credited President Bola Tinubu with creating the fiscal conditions that made such an expansive budget possible.
“What was impossible is now possible. Without the delivery of subsidy, our budget wouldn’t jump from N89bn to over N800bn. That is the evidence and benefit of the removal of fuel subsidy,” Nwifuru told attendees.
The governor also unveiled a new tax regime set to take effect from January 1, 2026. The reform will require wealthy individuals who avoid taxes to begin paying their fair share, while low-income earners—especially those earning below ₦20,000 annually—will be exempt.
“The poor, who are paying tax today, will stop paying to allow their income grow again,” he said.
Addressing concerns over slow progress on some key projects, Nwifuru explained that delays resulted from necessary design upgrades aimed at meeting long-term infrastructure demands. He cited the VANCO Junction tunnel in Abakaliki, which was originally designed as a 100-metre structure but expanded to more than 840 metres.
“We do that because we want our enemies to cry when we complete these projects,” he said, insisting that critics who doubted his administration’s vision would soon be proven wrong.
Nwifuru also announced that Ebonyi will host a 27-day commissioning exercise from May 1 to May 27, 2026, during which President Tinubu is expected to visit the state at least four times to inaugurate no fewer than ten major projects. He noted that the ceremonies would blend governance milestones with the political atmosphere ahead of the next election cycle.
Reaffirming his commitment to full budget implementation, the governor assured citizens that every resident would feel the impact of his administration’s development drive before the end of his tenure.
“With your support and prayers, we will implement this budget 100% in infrastructure and in human capital development. By the time we are handing over, everyone here will have something to show as part of the legacy of this government,” he said.
Nwifuru urged Ebonyi residents to remain united and supportive as the state embarks on what he described as its boldest phase of growth and transformation.
