A Community in Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nchatancha, which owns part of the land where the proposed Enugu Industrial Park was located for development by the past administration in the state, has denied the media report in an online platform,www.nairaland.com, alleging that the present administration in the state was delaying the commencement of the project.
Reacting to the said report, a member of the committee for the development of the Industrial park, which is under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement between the state government and a Chinese company, known as Goad Mark Group, Pastor Nick Ugwu described the allegation as “false, mischievous and a failed calculated attempt to discredit the tireless efforts of the present administration to kick start the project in spite of the harsh economic situation in the country.”
Pastor Ugwu said that contrary to the allegation, the state government had completed the earthwork of the access road leading to the site to enable the Chinese company move in their equipment for commencement of work, which was part of the agreement reached towards the actualization of the project.
He added that the governor personally visited the host communities, as a sign of commitment, to appeal to them for understanding and cooperation, when they revolted against the actions taken by the past administration on the agreement reached with them.
He also disclosed that present administration re-negotiated with the communities and asked them to set up committees that would be meeting with the government and the company for the smooth kick off of the project.
The community representative equally expressed worries that the rains and some unresolved community disputes had hindered the completion of the access road to the proposed industrial park.
He also stated that considering the present economic crisis in the country and tireless efforts so far made by the present administration to provide access road to the site for investment, it was unfair and mischievous to peddle such false allegation in the media that the government was delaying the project.
Pastor Ugwu described the present government in the state as an investment-friendly administration, which had developed and implemented programmes and policies that centre on direct investment and strategic partnership with foreign investors, such as the recent “Enugu State Investment Summit”, organized to woo investors to the state. He stressed that “there is no way the government could have wished away the socio-economic importance of the project in the state”, as was “mischievously” alleged in the publication.
“From the foregoing, I wish to state without fear of equivocation that the said publication is false, misleading and should be disregarded as it was the handiwork of desperate and mischievous elements, who have personal interest in the business and want to achieve it by all means,” Ugwu alleged.
Signed:
Pastor Nick Ugwu
Nchatancha Community, Enugu State.
