Ogalla Reaffirms Igboeze North JETA Vision, Unveils Devt. Milestones In Accessment Tour

The Executive Chairman of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Hon. Michael Uche Ogalla, has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to grassroots development, declaring that his government is anchored on the principles of Justice, Equity, Transformation and Accountability (JETA).

This is as the Chairman Unveiled his construction and Asphalting of Peter Mbah and Ogara link roads, as well as the construction of a Modern market and construction of sexual harassment referral centre in the local government area, among other projects.

Ogalla made the remarks while receiving members of the tripartite assessment committee comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Enugu state, who visited the council headquarters on an assessment tour of projects and governance at the local government.

NUJ Chairman, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, noted that the tour was just for joint committee take note of how the grassroots administrations in the state are impacting on their mandates.

Addressing the delegation, the council chairman said his administration operates an open-door policy and remains people-centred, stressing that governance under his watch is driven by accountability and inclusiveness.

According to him, his administration keyed into the development vision of Governor Peter Mbah immediately after assuming office, adopting what he described as the governor's "Politics Unusual" model of governance focused on delivering tangible benefits to the people.

"We keyed into the vision of the governor immediately after we were sworn in. We are working round the clock to surpass the expectations of the people of Igbo-Eze North in line with that vision," Ogalla said.

He explained that his administration's development agenda prioritises agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, education, youth empowerment, job creation and increased internally generated revenue (IGR).

Speaking on agriculture, Ogalla said the council was leveraging its vast arable land to drive economic growth while enhancing security.

"We are mainly focusing on agriculture because of the potential that we have as a local government owing to our vast arable lands," he stated, adding that cultivating previously unused forests would help displace criminal elements that had used such areas as hideouts.

He noted that the council had aligned with the state's 200-hectares-per-ward farm estate initiative and had already secured six hectares for agricultural development.

On infrastructure, the chairman told the committee that significant improvements had been recorded in road rehabilitation across the local government.

"Almost all our roads are usable now. Almost all the local roads have been enhanced," he said.

Ogalla highlighted several completed and ongoing road projects, including the rehabilitation and expansion of major rural roads across the council's 20 political wards, the Nsukka-MCC-Igbo-Eze North Road, Ogrute-Umu Ogili Eze-Aji Road, Igogoro-Okpo Road, Japan Road-Igbo-Eze Secondary School Road, Umuopu-Ette Road, Ulo-Ette Centre Road, Amufie-Olido Market-Ogbodu Road, Umachi-Amube-Orie Igbo-Eze Road and Umuida-Aguibeje-Unadu Road.

He added that the council also plans to modernise the Ozzi Market, asphalt Lagos Street within the market and complete the Igogoro-Okpo-Amaja Road.

In the health sector, Ogalla said his administration inherited only eight functional Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) out of the 42 in the local government but had successfully restored all of them to full functionality.

According to him, all 42 PHCs became fully operational by June 1, 2026, following the rehabilitation of facilities and the distribution of essential drugs. He also noted that solar power and CCTV surveillance systems had been installed at the Enugu-Ezike District Hospital to improve healthcare delivery and security.

On security, the chairman said his administration stabilised the security situation within three months of assuming office, adding that kidnapping and other criminal activities had been significantly curtailed.

He disclosed that 12 abducted persons were rescued between January and March 2026, while the council continues to install security cameras in strategic locations and provide welfare support to members of the Neighbourhood Watch.

Ogalla further highlighted initiatives in education and youth empowerment, including the award of a postgraduate scholarship to a first-class graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as well as programmes aimed at empowering young people and women across the local government.

He also referenced the council's ₦5.63 billion 2025 "Budget of Grassroots Transformation," noting that 47 per cent of the budget was dedicated to capital projects spanning healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure and market development.

The chairman used the opportunity to call on sons and daughters of Igbo-Eze North living outside the area to invest in their communities, saying such investments would complement the ongoing developmental efforts of both the state and local governments.

The assessment team was in Igbo-Eze North to evaluate governance, infrastructure and service delivery under the present administration as part of its statewide assessment of local government performance.