It was quite an experience joining the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, today as he led the National Communications Team (NCT) and media stakeholders on the 2-day Citizens’ Engagement Series in the South East geo-political zone, starting here in Enugu State.
We launched what we’re calling “Government Connect – Come and See,” which is essentially about showing rather than just telling when it comes to government projects and achievements in the region.
The day involved visiting several key infrastructure projects across Enugu State. We inspected the Eke Obinagu Flyover in Emene, which is part of the broader Enugu-Abakaliki expressway dualisation project. The scale of the work is impressive, and you can see how it will improve traffic flow and connectivity once completed.
We also visited the Oncology Centre at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Ituku-Ozalla. This facility will provide specialised cancer treatment services to the Southeast region, which is very important given the previous lack of such specialised care in the area.
Our tour included sections of both the Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Onitsha expressways. The Enugu-Onitsha route, funded through MTN’s participation in the Tax Credit Scheme, shows how private sector involvement can accelerate infrastructure development. We also inspected the progress on the 9th Mile – Opi Nsukka Road reconstruction project.
This visit highlighted several major initiatives under President Tinubu’s administration that are specifically focused on the Southeast. The establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) represents a structured approach to addressing infrastructure gaps that have long affected the region.
The ongoing 465-kilometre Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway project, when completed, will create a direct link between the Southeast and Abuja, potentially opening up new economic opportunities along the corridor.
In terms of education, the administration has established several new federal universities in the region, including the Federal University of Agriculture in Ako-Nike here in Enugu State, the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in Item, Abia State, the Federal University in Okigwe, Imo State and many others. These institutions should help address the educational needs of the region while potentially attracting students from other parts of the country.
The “Come and See” concept is straightforward – instead of relying solely on reports and briefings, we’re taking stakeholders directly to project sites. This approach allows for more transparent interaction with media, traditional leaders, and community representatives.
We’re working with state governments and local stakeholders to ensure better communication about federal projects and their impact on communities. It’s about creating more direct channels between the federal government and citizens.
Tonight’s town hall meeting with Enugu State residents will be an important part of this engagement strategy. It provides an opportunity for direct questions and feedback from the community about these projects and other concerns.
The Southeast tour continues to other states in the coming days, where we’ll inspect similar projects and hold comparable community engagement sessions.
Having been part of this process, I can say that the level of federal investment in Southeast infrastructure under this administration is commendable. The projects we visited speak to real progress on longstanding infrastructure needs in the region, and we can only thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji; Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga; Senior Special Assistants to the President; Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos; Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Ali Muhammad Ali; Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mohammed Bulama; Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu; and Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, all joined the tour, among others.
