Chief Uche Nnaji, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Enugu State, announced a plan to establish three major industries within two years if elected in the 2027 general election. The pledge was made during a consultative visit and campaign tour in Aba, Abia State, where he also highlighted growing hunger, insecurity and a decline in rural economic activity across Enugu.
During the visit, Nnaji warned that village markets were closing and that traders were now operating only at night to avoid paying taxes. He said, “Markets in the villages have closed, with traders now coming out only at night to avoid paying taxes.” He also raised concerns about a resurgence of armed robbery between midnight and 4 a.m., with criminals breaking into homes and businesses to steal food and other valuables, a trend he linked to the state’s economic hardship.
“We want to establish an industry that will process coal directly. We also want to establish an industry to harness the huge iron ore deposits stretching from Nachi to the Nsukka area. This will enable us to produce iron rods locally,” Nnaji said.
Nnaji’s industrialisation agenda focuses on exploiting Enugu’s natural resources. He identified coal and iron ore as key assets, proposing a coal‑processing plant in Awhum and an iron‑and‑steel facility that would use deposits from Nachi to the Nsukka axis. He also mentioned the potential for cement production, noting that the state has the raw materials but that current political and economic conditions make the venture uncertain.
He criticised the evacuation of large quantities of coal from Awhum, noting that “more than 100 trailers of coal are evacuated from the community every night” without providing benefits to the local population. He said this practice would leave residents to suffer future consequences and called for greater social responsibility.
Sunday Okonkwo, chairman of the Enugu State Consultative Forum, Abia State Chapter, welcomed the delegation and pledged support for Nnaji and other PDP candidates. Okonkwo said the forum, made up of Enugu indigenes living in Abia, would mobilise support for the state’s political and developmental affairs, describing Nnaji as a successful businessman and job creator.
He urged practical solutions to challenges such as unemployment, insecurity, poor road infrastructure and excessive taxation, and assured that forum members would act as ambassadors and canvassers for the PDP in the run‑up to the 2027 elections.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>