Ebonyi State Government has come under reprehension by members of the public over the budget of over five hundred and fifty one million for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage for the Muslim community in the state. This information came to public today from the commissioner for information, Jude Okpo according to him which was the outcome of the state executive council meeting held in the chambers, Government House, Abakaliki.
“PRESS BRIEFING ON THE OUTCOME OF THE EBONYI STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025
The Ebonyi State Executive Council meeting of Friday, 7th February, 2025, was held with the Chairman of the Council and Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB, FCAI, GGCEHF presiding.
Resolutions
1. HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
To expand the scope of the present administration’s effort towards human capital development, and as a government backup effort to the first batch of 100 trained Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Empowerment Programme (FONEP) graduates, EXCO approved the release of the sum of Three Hundred Million Naira (N300,000,000) for the empowerment/settlement of the 2nd batch of additional 100 graduates who passed out from the Master Skill and Development Service, Agbani, Enugu.
With the approval, each of the graduates is to receive the sum of Three Million Naira (N3,000,000) to enable them to start up their farms.
2. RELIGIOUS MATTERS
i. Moslem Pilgrims Welfare
Nigeria is a secular state, and Ebonyi under the pragmatic leadership of His Excellency, the Governor, has not only become a peaceful home for all where religious tolerance is encouraged but also seen practised.
In practical exhibition of this government’s disposition and intention, EXCO approved the release of the total sum of Five Hundred and Fifty-One Million, Five Hundred and Two Thousand Naira, Eighty-four kobo (N551,502,142.84) only for the sponsorship of forty-six (46) prospective pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj activities. This is to the financial implication of (N8,784,085.59) only per beneficiary in the said package.
ii. EXCO also resolved to ask all the council chairmen to consider the sponsorship of one (1) person in each of the council areas in the 2025 Hajj to broaden indigenes’ participation.
3. EDUCATION (Primary & Secondary)
Considering the overwhelming benefits of science laboratories to basic education, EXCO approved the construction of the proposed Rt. Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Laboratory Complex at Community Secondary School, Nwofe, Agbaja Izzi. This project, which will be one of the signature projects of the present administration in the intention of the State Government, is to build a reliable framework that will encourage the needed consciousness, especially on science-related subjects.
4. CYBERCRIME
In receipt of the ruling of the Federal High Court over the adjudication of the validity of the Cybercrime Prohibition Law 012, 2021 which was declared unconstitutional, null and void. EXCO accepted the ruling with a position of “no appeal” on same, and further opted to revert to the provisions of the mother law, Cybercrime Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2015 already domesticated in the state. By interpretation, the state will henceforth prosecute Cybercrime offenders under the provisions of the federal/mother laws.
5. WORKS & INFRASTRUCTURE
To broaden the infrastructural base of the state, particularly within the adjoining communities of the state, EXCO approved the construction of a 3-span reinforced concrete bridge at Umaku, Afikpo Local Government Area, with other ancillary works to go with it. This bridge when completed is expected to enhance the intercommunity access.
Other projects approved by the council include:
1. Construction of the 5km Okofia-Nsokkara-Amagu Road in Ezza South Local Government Area.
2. Construction of the Oferekpe Agbaja Internal Road Lot 1 in Izzi LGA.
3. Construction of the 4,123.11m Internal Roads within the Izzo Housing Project in Ishielu LGA.
4. Construction of the 5,122km Internal Roads within Amaeze Housing Project.
5. Construction of the 16.7km Randa-Mbamiri Road in Izzi Local Government Area.
To God be the glory.
Engr. Jude Chikadibia Okpor,
Hon. Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ebonyi State.
08/02/2025″
In a swift reaction to this, a well known leadership critic in Ebonyi State, Sir Chika Nwoba, KSC posted on his Facebook wall:
“There’s everything wrong with government at any level sponsoring religious activities in all forms. Government should not have anything to do with religion. The Ebonyi State Government of Nwifuru has once again got it fatally wrong. Giving N551 million to the Muslim community in the state for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage in the face of insecurity, hunger and poverty is a clueless action. It’s also clueless to sponsor Christian pilgrimages, reason the law enabling this act of wastefulness should be repealed and done away with. Pilgrimage is a religious tourism and as such, should be at the exclusive expense of each pilgrim wanting to embark on it since it adds no value to governance, economy and moral rectitude as the many that have gone there so far haven’t shown remarkable moral compass worthy of reverence.
The Ebonyi State Government giving each of the Hajj pilgrims N8 million and ordering LGA chairmen to sponsor at least one person in their respective council area to the Hajj is a direct spitting on the faces of Ebonyi people on many fronts. Innocent people lost their lives, buildings and property in Nkalaha to the two different attacks carried out on the community by unknown persons, the government hasn’t yet announced any palliative measure to cushion the pains these attacks have brought upon the families of the victims. Teachers in six LGAs of the state haven’t been paid their salaries since November, 2024. They’ve embarked on a strike action in protest of this malevolent gesture. I’m sure that N551 million could offset the now piled up salaries at least in three of the council areas as a rescue measure. Many Ebonyi children & parents are everywhere outside the state undertaking menial jobs to be able to feed. Imagine how nice it’d be investing this sum under reference in salvaging the situation in one senatorial zone of the state.
This particular Ebonyi State Government keeps making itself vulnerable to vituperation and criticism by undertaking clueless projects and despondent policies always. Each of the pilgrims receiving N8 million is already well-placed in the society economically, meaning that the money is going into the hands of people that are not a priority. I’m not angry because the money is meant for Muslims, no! Both Christians and Muslims should not be sponsored to pilgrimage. It should be a personal decision whether or not to go. So, Ebonyi State Government should learn to put money into priority projects that can birth landmark results in the nearest tomorrow.”
