NOA: Subsidy removal freeing up funds for Enugu, Ebonyi infrastructure projects

By Abubakar Yunusa

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says petrol subsidy removal is freeing funds for infrastructure projects in Enugu and Ebonyi.
In its latest weekly publication edition, the agency said the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms are already visible in the southeast through ongoing federal and state-led projects.
“When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the Renewed Hope Agenda in May 2023, critics dismissed it as mere lofty rhetorics, but two years after, the Southeast is witnessing a transformation reflecting a renewed hope,” the NOA report said.
“The promises are turning into projects, and the projects are turning into progress.
“From the busy streets of Enugu to the bustling communities of Ebonyi, federal initiatives are not only reshaping infrastructure development but also restoring confidence in federal government’s promise that indeed, no region will be left behind in Nigeria’s march towards prosperity.”
The agency said this message was reinforced during the citizens’ engagement series and federal government projects tour in the southeast, led by Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation.
According to the NOA, the delegation engaged with residents, inspected projects and explained that while reforms may come with short-term pains, they are unlocking long-term gains already visible on the ground.
In Enugu, Peter Mbah, the state governor, hosted the delegation at the International Conference Centre (ICC), where citizens gathered to hear from the federal government.
According to the report, the minister said reforms like the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of exchange rates have released billions of naira, which are now being invested in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture across various regions.
“The Southeast is central to our vision for a prosperous Nigeria, not on the sidelines,” Idris was quoted as saying.
The report listed projects inspected in Enugu to include the Federal Oncology and Cancer Treatment Centre, and section three of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway (61 kilometres, N100.8 billion).
The delegation also inspected state-led projects said to be made possible by federal reforms, including the construction of 7,000 classrooms, 3,300 hospital beds, and a 2,000-hectare farm estate spread across 260 wards.
Mbah appreciated the president for his reforms, which “have unlocked the resources required to carry out major capital projects in the state”.
“For us in Enugu, we can accomplish all we promised our people during the campaign. Thanks to the bold decision taken by President Bola Tinubu, which has freed up resources needed to execute humongous capital projects,” the governor was quoted as saying.
In Ebonyi, Francis Nwifuru, the state governor, reportedly welcomed the federal delegation, showcasing state projects and also the far-reaching impact of federal interventions in the state.
NOA said the projects inspected were the trans-Saharan superhighway, N’dibe beach, Enugu-Abakaliki road, civil servant reward estate in Abakaliki, and local infrastructure expansion.
“By judiciously applying resources freed from subsidy removal, the state is reshaping its infrastructure map,” the agency said.
The orientation agency said the significance of the tour went beyond “photo opportunities”, stating that it is a reflection of the expression that “infrastructure delivery is the bedrock of renewed hope agenda”.
The agency said the federal government is building a foundation for long-term growth with the projects, noting that they transcend engineering works by serving as investments in human capital, commerce, and regional equity.