New Cement Factory: Ebonyi, China firm sign agreement

As part of the move to actualise a new cement factory for Ebonyi State, the State Executive Council has given approval to the proposed design, building, and operation of a 6000 TYD EPC Cement plant project to be located in Nkalagu in partnership with China JIANGSU PENGFEI GROUP LTD.

The approval was part of the outcome of an emergency Executive Council meeting held on Monday, and presided by Governor Nwifuru.

Briefing on this and other outcomes was jointly carried out on Tuesday by the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, with his Justice and Attorney-General counterpart, Ben Uruchi Odo, and that of Commerce and Industry, Oguzor Offia-Nwali.

Recall that the Governor, about a month ago, had invited some China expatriates who carried out inspection tours of the proposed site for the factory. 

This was followed by the recent two-week State Government delegation’s trip to China, led by the governor.

Speaking on the outcome of the State delegation trip to China, Offia-Nwali said a memorandum of understanding and an agreement has been signed between the state government and the China company towards the establishment of the factory, while other processes are systematically being followed.

Speaking further on the outcome of the China trip, Omebeh said: “The EXCO was briefed on some major economic prospects, which include contracts for the reactivation of our secondary schools on digital technology to operate a smart system at that educational level.

“Under this proposed arrangement, a company will be established at the ICT University, Oferekpe to produce digital cameras and other electronic gadgets.”

He emphasised that the government’s intention for the university is to make it a “wonderland” of educational and technological tourism destination, adding that the government had already procured and delivered a high density generating set to supply power. 

Following the failure of many contractors to complete the awarded 2km road projects across the state after repeated warnings, Omebeh informed that the governor during the meeting ordered the immediate and complete termination of all the uncompleted ones.

He said: “EXCO, after taking a hard look on the progress of work on the State Government’s 2km road projects, directed the Honourable Attorney General (HAG) and Commissioner for Justice to complete the termination processes of all uncompleted 2km road projects before the close of work on Wednesday, 22nd July, 2026 as Special EXCO Committees have been constituted for each Local Government Area to ensure their completion before September, 2026.

“EXCO thereby further directed the Commissioner for Special Project, Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu, to immediately take inventory of all uncompleted 2km road projects for necessary action(s).”