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Thursday, December 19, 2024

Energy commission accuses Enugu of frustrating multi-billion naira methanol plant

The Energy Commission of Nigeria has raised concerns over the Enugu State Government’s alleged attempts to frustrate the construction of a multi-billion Naira bio-methanol plant in Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Area.

The project, worth over N40 billion, is the first of its kind in West Africa and was initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to reports, the state government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, stopped work at the site and had seven construction workers arrested by the police.

The workers were briefly detained at the RRS Govt House Enugu and later moved to the Anti Kidnapping section at Independence Layout, Enugu.

However, following interventions from higher federal government authorities, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the immediate release of the detainees.

Community leaders have expressed anger over the state government’s actions, alleging that the project was attracted by Chief Uche Nnaji, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State during the 2023 general elections.

They claim that the state government’s actions are politically motivated and aimed at frustrating federal government investments in the state.

The bio-methanol project, along with a similar N60 billion Solar PV project, has the potential to provide employment to tens of thousands of Enugu state youths and transform the economy of Enugu and the South East region.

Confirming the report to journalist in Enugu on Sunday, an official of the Commission Mr E. Okeke, said that multi-billion Naira “Renewed Hope” Bio-Methanol Pilot Plant at Akpugo, in Nkanu West Local Area of the state has been stopped on the orders of the governor.

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According to him, the police allegedly stormed the site in company of the local government chairmen of Nkanu East and Nkanu West and arrested the workers.

Those arrested included, Ambrose Edeh, Chibuike Edeh, Monday Nwodo, Obinna Samuel, Ebuka Chukwurah, Chibuike Okereke, and Maduabuchi Okoro.

“The police officers also removed batteries of the earth moving machines at the site, in order to stall the construction activities.

“The construction workers arrested were detained briefly at RRS Govt House Enugu and later moved to Anti Kidnapping section at Independence Layout, Enugu and around midnight moved to State CID,” Okeke said.

Sources around the local government told journalists that Nkanu leaders were angry with action of the state government for trying to frustrate Federal Government investment in their land.

The land where the project was located was properly donated to the Federal Government by the community for the project, according to leaders of the community, who displayed a document to that effect, a source told our reporter.

The N40 billion Naira bio methanol project when operational is expected to solve most of the industrial needs of Nigeria and Africa.

It is also one of the biggest projects in the entire South East by the President Bola Tinubu administration.

One of the elders of the host community, Chief John Ogbodo, who spoke to journalists at the site, that it was obvious action of the state government was politically motivated, since the project was attracted by Chief Uche Nnaji, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State during the 2023 general elections.

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The methanol project in addition to a similar project, the N60 billion Solar PV project (for production of solar panels) also attracted to the area by the Minister, have the combined capacity to provide employment to tens of thousands of Enugu state youths and change the economy of Enugu and South East in general.

Some community elders alleged that it was obvious the state government was glittery, and hence wants to frustrate the projects because of the likely impact come 2027.

When contacted, the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said he was not aware of the incident.

“I don’t have a report of such arrest please,” he simply said in a text message.

Governor Peter Mbah denied the allegations, denying the project as genuine, adding that it is landing grabbing scheme.

Governor Mbah’s special assistant on media, Dan Nwaome, who spoke to our reporter simply said: “There is no such federal government project”.

He added, “It’s a land grabbing scheme. Enugu State government has always provided lands for genuine federal projects sited in the state.”

Ede Nwa Ede
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