Ebonyi State Government has taken over the United Nations Industrial
Development Organisation (UNIDO) demonstration biomass gasifier power
plant located at the UNIDO Mini -industrial cluster in Ekwashi
Ngbo,Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
During the ceremony which was witnessed by many members of the State
Executive Council, Governor David Umahi said that three more similar
plants had already been paid for by his administration.
Umahi, in a statement on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma
Anya, disclosed that the plants would soon arrive the state.
The governor, who thanked UNIDO for demonstrating interest in the
development of the state, announced the appointment of Mrs. Bene Oba as
his senior special assistant on UNIDO matters.
He said, ” UNIDO is a house hold name in Ebonyi State. We have made part
payment for similar plants like this. One of them is 1MW and another is
500 killowats.
“We also have MOU for another four 1MW plant aside the 5.5MW project we
are embarking upon with a German company.”
Turning to the UNIDO team led by Dr. Reuben Bamidele, the governor
said,”You have set up the steam and I can assure you that we are following
your footstep. We are very encouraged by your commitment and love for the
people of Ebonyi State. Today, we take over the gasification plant and
while we are expecting 100KW to be added to this.”
Charging the administrators of Ohaukwu Local Government area to develop
the axillary structures for the UNIDO Industrial cluster, he added that
his administration had paid for three new rice mills.
He said, “We have three rice mills we have paid for in China. It is being
produced and early next year,January,they will be here. One is going to
be in Ohaukwu LGA; one in Ishielu LGA and the third in Ohaozara LGA.”
The governor charged the caretaker committee chairmen of the three
LGAs to, in the next two weeks, ” bring us to come and see the places
they have cleared so that we could start building the structures to house
them.”
Earlier, the state UNIDO Coordinator,Evang. Chukwuma Elom,commended
Governor Umahi for his development strides and for being the first
governor to visit UNIDO shortly after his inauguration.
He described the biomass gasifier plant as first of its kind in Nigeria.