It was an independence anniversary celebration with a great difference in Udi local government area of Enugu State as the Local Government Council made another giant milestone achievement in the fight against insecurity in the local government area when he launched 20 brand new power motorcycles and related security equipment to reinforce the security combat readiness of neighbourhood watch personnel in the 20 wards of the local government area.
The ceremony took place at the Udi Local Government field and events center, with a matching podium currently under reconstruction and renovation. In his anniversary speech, the chairman said that the occasion of Nigerian independence anniversary has become a time for introspective analysis of the nation’s progress so far after her political evolution from one military regime to another until 1999 when the current democratic dispensation was birthed and congratulated Ndi Udi and all Nigerians on yet another year in the nation’s journey as a nation.
Such a time as this, said the chairman, presented an opportunity to take stock and appraise the journey of his administration so far as the third tier of government, noting that his administration’s goals from inception has remained to be a highly mobile, effective and efficient government that is responsive to the needs of the people. He went on to give an account of his stewardship to the people of Udi local government area.
AGRICULTURE
On agriculture, the council chairman said his council procured several tonnes of fertilizer which he distributed to rural farmers in the local government area, aimed at improving crop yield and food security in the local government area. The administration has also been fulfilling its electoral mandate by engaging and encouraging youths in the council area to enlist in the Federal Government Social Intervention Programme, N-POWER Agric Extension activities.
The Council, in its bid to facilitate mechanized farming also made the Local Government tractor available for interested individuals or groups who are involved in large-scale farming within the Udi LGA to improve high yield and availability of food crops as well as increase their productivity in food supply.
The chairman said that, with the support of members of his Executive Council and Council Legislators, his administration had on several occasions sponsored various Agric Trade fair exhibitions of Udi LGA products as well as sponsored members of the Agric Farmers Association of Amalgamated Farmers, Fish Farmers Association, Cassava Growers Association to many Agric/Agro-allied outings and also to the Small and medium sized Agric enterprise launched by the Vice president of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo at Okpara square and other related events.
The council has also proposed further human and agricultural developmental programmes in the areas of farm inputs, improved farm seedlings and equipments with a view to improve the lot of Udi LGA citizens in terms of food consumption and earning of income via agro-businesses, the chairman said.
EDUCATION, YOUTHS AND SPORTS
In the areas of education, youths and sports, the chairman disclosed that the Council sponsored Udi team to victory in the 2018 Gburugburu Cup tournament, and also sponsored Udi boys in boxing competition in Udi LGA which led to their winning a medal for Enugu State in the National boxing competition.
The council also sponsored the under-13 football team to Ikeje Asogwa football competition at which where the council came 2nd, winning the silver trophy. The council sponsored several other programs such as schools debate and workshop for teenagers which equipped them with social services and tackling skills to be deployed in their communities and also sponsored a good number of Udi youths in skill acquisition programs organized by the State Ministry of Poverty and Human Alleviation.
The chairman boasted that his council’s Adult Literacy Program remains a reference model to other local governments across the federation, while disclosing that, in partnership with ENSUBEB, his administration has ensured the payment of teachers’ salaries and allowances in addition to the renovation/construction of over 20 primary and secondary schools across the LGA between last year and this year as follows:
Community Primary School, Ngwo; Construction of five (5) classrooms with ceramic tiles
Reconstruction Community Junior Secondary School Amaozalla Affa
Reconstruction of C/S AkpakwumeNze
Reconstruction of five (5) class room block CPS II EziNze
Reconstruction ofsix(6) class room block at Conununity Junior Secondary School Obinagu
Construction of 3 class room with office floored with tiles
Construction of three (3) class room with office at Central School Abia.
Construction of Exam Hall with ceramic tiles at Community Junior Secondary School EziNze
Construction of four (4) units squatting toilets with floor and wall tiles at CPS Abia
Reconstruction of five (5) class room with floor tiles at PS Idedu Amokwe.
CPS Umudirn Primary School Amokwe
CPS Orji Primary School Amokwe
South West Primary School Amokwe
C.P.S Oma Eke
C.P.S Nachi Renovation
Primary School Okwojo, Ngwo
NPS Ngwo Uno
CPS Obioma
CPS Ukana
C. S. Ikeghe Okpatu
Also in partnership with UBEC, the council provided over 2000 seats and desks in primary schools, introduced enhanced learning materials and other accessories both in Early Child Care and Primary schools. The council has also successfully set up and domesticated the Education Management Information System (EMIS), an institutional service, producing, managing and disseminating data and information unit, and repository for data collection, processing, analysis and reporting of educational information including schools, students, teachers and staff and also used by the State and Federal Ministries of Education, ENSUBEB/UBEC, NGGs, Researchers, donors and other education stakeholders for research, policy and planning, monitoring/evaluation and decision making.
HEALTH SECTOR
In the health sector, the chairman said his administration ensured timely fumigation of all health centers in Udi local government area which is on the priority list of the administration and constantly executed under his special watch. Udi local government also participated in National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) and purchased and donated a grass mowing machine to the Udi General Hospital. The Nachi Health Center labour room and ward which were gutted by fire has also been rebuilt and normal services restored at full capacity.
SECURITY
The highlight of the chairman’s record of achievement was in the area of security. Noting that security was one of the major challenges facing Nigeria and Enugu State at this point in time, the chairman said that his administration rose to the occasion by full implementation of the state government’s security blueprint in Udi and among other council’s security measures and are more than determined to do more. Among the steps taken by the council in tackling these security challenges at the council level are the construction of security posts at Nnvene road, Egede-Affa road, Agbudu road and Nsude- Obioma road.
To crown these efforts, the chairman said, the Council, with the support of the State Government embarked on the operationalization and equipping of a neighbourhood watch group “which further testifies to the deep concern of the State government in conjunction with the Local Council to keep our people and our livelihood safe from these marauders and. their collaborators. Gadgets and equipment needed for the effective surveillance of our immediate environment are being put in place and will be made available to our sons who have made themselves available to ensure that we are safe”.
Highlight of the ceremony was the formal commissioning and presentation of 20 brand new power motorcycles, one each to the neighbourhood watch groups in the 20 wards of Udi local government area by the Council chairman, amid thunderous ovation from the crowd.
Earlier, pupils and students of the various primary and secondary schools in Udi local government area as well as the members of Udi local government central neighbourhood watch group had performed the traditional independence match past with the council chairman taking the salute. At the end of the march past, South West Primary School, Amokwe, took the first position in the primary school category, while Madonna Primary and Nursery School, Amokwe took the second position. The third position went to Premier Primary School, Udi.
In the secondary school category, Community Secondary School, Udi/Abia emerged first while Mater Dei College, Udi came second and Community Secondary School, Ukana third.
The ceremony was attended by top functionaries of Udi local government council including the leader of the Legislative Council, Hon. Emma Eneh and members of the legislative council, the deputy chairman, Hon. Ikechukwu Ozor, the Secretary to the local government, Hon. Nnamdi Onyia, Supervisory councilors and top security personnel including the Udi Divisional Police Officer (DPO) among other government functionaries. In attendance also were Udi top political juggernauts, including the Udi PDP Chairman, Hon. Okey Aneke, chairman of Udi traditional rulers council and his members, other eminent personalities as well as hundreds of Udi local government people from all the 20 wards of the local government area, in addition to detachments from various primary and secondary schools in the council area who came to pay the traditional honour and pledge to Nigeria at her 59th independence anniversary in a special match past.
The ceremony featured several cultural performances by various primary and secondary schools in the local government area.
The ECHO
THE ECHO 