What I’ll do in Enugu within 2 years if elected governor – Uche Nnaji

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Uche Nnaji, has promised to establish three major industries in the state within two years if elected governor in 2027.

Mr Nnaji, a former minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, made the promise during a consultative campaign tour to visit Enugu State indigenes residing in Aba, Abia, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Robert Ngwu, in Enugu.

The PDP candidate said the proposed industries would focus on coal processing, iron ore utilisation and cement production as part of efforts to industrialise the state and create employment opportunities.

He expressed concern over what he described as “worsening hunger, insecurity and declining economic activities” in rural communities across Enugu.

He lamented that markets in some villages had closed, alleging that traders now operate at night to avoid paying taxes.

“So many people do not know what is happening. Markets in the villages have closed, with traders now coming out only at night to avoid paying taxes,” he said.

Mr Nnaji also claimed that there was a resurgence of armed robbery in the state, saying criminals had returned to operating between midnight and 4 a.m., breaking into homes and other places to steal food and valuables.

He claimed that the situation reflected the level of hunger and economic hardship confronting residents of the state.

The governorship candidate said his industrialisation plan would focus on harnessing the state’s coal and iron ore deposits, particularly in Awhum, Nachi and the Nsukka axis.

He alleged that large quantities of coal were being evacuated from Awhum without commensurate benefits to the host community.

“Today, if you go to Awhum, more than 100 trailers of coal are evacuated from the community every night. What does that tell you?

“It means our people will suffer the consequences in the future because they are getting nothing in return,” he stated. “There is no social responsibility to the community.”

Mr Nnaji said he would establish an industry to process coal locally and another firm to harness iron ore deposits stretching from Nachi to the Nsukka Area for the production of iron rods if he is elected.

He added that cement production was also part of his industrialisation agenda.

“We will also look at cement production. We know where the raw materials are, but we cannot venture into that now because of the attitude of those in power,” he added.

While welcoming Mr Nnaji and other PDP candidates at the event, the Chairman of the Enugu State Consultative Forum, Abia Chapter, Sunday Okonkwo, pledged the support of Enugu indigenes residing in Abia for the party’s candidates.

Mr Okonkwo said the forum, comprising sons, daughters and wives of Enugu indigenes living in Abia, considered itself a stakeholder in the political and developmental affairs of the state.

The chairman said the visit demonstrated the importance of maintaining ties between Enugu indigenes living outside the state and those at home.

“As Enugu people living in Abia, we are happy that our brothers who seek to serve our state have remembered us. You have shown that Enugu is one, whether at home or in the diaspora.

“We in Abia may be living outside our state, but Enugu is our home.

“The pain of Enugu is our pain, and the progress of Enugu is our progress,” he said.

He described Mr Nnaji as a successful businessman and job creator, expressing confidence in his industrialisation agenda and promise to reduce the tax burden on residents.

Mr Okonkwo said Enugu needed practical solutions to challenges such as unemployment, insecurity, poor roads and excessive taxation.

He assured that members of the forum would mobilise support among their relatives and other Enugu indigenes at home ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We are not spectators. We are stakeholders. We will support, we will mobilise, and we will send our voices back home.

“We are not just supporters in Abia State; we are ambassadors and canvassers,” he added.

Mr Nnaji has continued his campaign for his governorship ambition in Enugu State despite ongoing trial over his certificate forgery scandal.

The former minister’s ongoing trial at the federal high court in Abuja followed a painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES in October last year, which revealed that he forged his UNN degree and NYSC certificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

His trial began shortly after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission arrested him in July after he ignored several invitations extended to him by the commission for questioning over the forgery scandal.

The ICPC, which is the agency prosecuting Mr Nnaji for certificate forgery, arrested him after obtaining a court order to do so.

Mr Nnaji had resigned from his position as minister three days after this newspaper published the investigation exposing how he forged his degree and NYSC certificates.

In late May, the politician emerged as the governorship candidate of the Nyesom Wike-backed PDP faction ahead of the 2027 general election.

Within the same period, this newspaper exclusively reported that Mr Nnaji was desperate to become governor in order to, among other reasons, enjoy immunity from prosecution if he wins the governorship poll.