By Mayor Afurobi Media Team
When the people driven administration decided to install democratically elected officials in the third tier of government in Abia, God’s own state, the announcement not only elicited joy but resulted in careful search by different area councils for those pilot their affairs.
Selecting cum nominating chairmen known in the state as mayors and councillors by different political parties as Aspirants went through rigorous exercises to emerge.
So the emergence of High Chief Sunny Afurobi as the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party in umunneochi Local Government Area, was as expected in a democratic political process, highly intriguing and interesting as the gladiators, stakeholders and the party members made the right choice.
The victory of the Zenith Labour Party candidate, High Chief Sunny Afurobi, on the 2nd day of November, 2024, followed his inauguration on the 5th day of November, 2024 was one that was full of expectations by the people.
No wonder, shortly after his inauguration, the newly elected mayor reeled out his policy direction, entering into a social contract with Ndi Umunneochi, with a vow that any money meant for the development of the council must be judiciously utilized.
As promised, a few weeks into his administration, the zealous Mayor Afurobi, secured the laterite filling and grading of rural roads in different parts of Umunneochi local government, and this project was successfully carried out between December, 2024 and January, 2025, an action that made movements in the rural areas easier.
As leader that appreciates conducive working environment, he embarked on total cleanup of the local government headquarters as well as the renovation and the retrofitting of administrative Office block, which was full of leaking roofs and damaged furniture.
Today , to the admiration of all, the Mayor’s office has been equipped with new furniture while the newly renovated Mayor’s Conference Room also received touch of class with modern furniture.
In addition, the Deputy Mayor’s Office building with other four buildings in the council premises were also comprehensively renovated and equipped to taste.
The failed water borehole in the Council headquarters was rehabilitated and reticulated to all the buildings for both Staff and the public to, a far cry from the ugly past.
The Mayor who was surprised that there was no public power supply by the Enugu Electricity Development Company, EEDC, to the council headquarters, swung into action, and connected the Council premises to public power supply to guarantee as promised the comfort of all staff.
Also touched was renovation and equipping of the Legislative Council Chambers, which before his coming was occupied by the Operation Crush personnel.
Not left out is the entrance into the council which created bad impressions to any visitor to the headquarters, and today, a peep at the local government headquarters, Nkwoagu, will confirm that the present Mayor has a taste and touch of quality, as the current ambience and aesthetics of the headquarters can attest to this.
The Mayor has equally installed a 75 kw Solar Powered Inverter for 24/7 power supply in the LGA Headquarters, while a 2025 Model, Elon Musk Starlink Internet facility has been installed in the LGA complex for internet provision for key Staff, other key operations, all aimed at digitisation of the complex.
Apart from these, work is now in place for the installation of functional CCTV Cameras to ensure all round security.
Indeed, security is an area the Mayor Umunneochi has shown capacity and as a way of sustaining the gain Governor Alex Otti has recorded in Umunneochi and other parts of Abia, Chief Afurobi is Constructing a Military base in Umuaku which is in the advanced stage of completion.
Furthermore, the Afurobi led administration is currently constructing a Security Block at Ndiawa Military base and all these efforts are aimed at strengthening security operations in Umunneochi.
Chatting with newsmen, the development oriented Mayor noted: “I decided to upgrade the council headquarters to make it more befitting and conducive for workers comfort, as well as ensuring greater efficiency and maximum productivity.”
In order to tackle the high rate of crimewave and protect lives and properties of the people, Mayor Sunny Afurobi, has installed a 360 Degrees Solar Powered Camera in the Local government headquarters and Three other major strategic flashpoints in different parts of the local government, with a control room for monitoring and this is in addition the procurement of three sets of Computer with other security facilities, mounted for monitoring of the CCTV cameras.
As a way of ensuring the aesthetics of the headquarters and its surrounding the Umunneochi Mayor embarked on the renovations and beautification of both Nkwoagu Bus Stop situated in the front of the council fence, along Nkwoagu to Ngodo road and the Nkwoagu roundabout.
These efforts account why this foward looking regime engaged cleaners who undertake the daily cleaning of the premises of the council and another set of people for the periodic clearing of all Major Road sides in the four zones of Umunneochi.
Having assured that he is in government to change the old narratives of underdevelopment, Mayor Afurobi has embarked on several development projects in communities and today the Achara Bridge has been completed offering commuters ply Eke Isuochi to Achara towards Enugu Port Harcourt express junction with less difficulty.
Others are: on going construction of Culverts at Akpugo, Umumeze, Amuda Isuochi, Obilikpa, Eziama Nneato, the entrance to INEC LGA office, and the Umuelem Erosion Control Drainage project.
There is also the ongoing filling of Umukparo to Umuerim, road, Mbala Isuochi, with granite lumps and laterite as well as its grading.
Indeed, some major roads like the Leru under bridge road, Leru to Nkwoagu road, Amuda to Umuaku roads, were experienced palliative works, making rhe affected areas very motorable.
Mayor Afurobi in keeping with his light must glow initiative, has installed about 140 AKT Solar Light at 12 locations in Umunnemotorcycle. the phase 1 of the project already concluded and delivered to benefitting communities.
For sure, those who have not gotten will be considered in the second phase which will commence soon, as stated by the council boss.
In the area of Agriculture, Chief Sunny Afurobi, procured thousands of improved cassava stems (419 species cassava stem) and distributed to farmers to help farmers reap better yields.
In Trade and Commerce, the leadership of Mayor Sunny Afurobi has shown proved its mettle as it recently secured the approval for the construction of four modern evening markets with locations in Nneato, Lekwesi, Ngodo, and Mbala.
According the Peoples’ Mayor, these markets, whose contractors have been mobilized, will be equipped with Boreholes, Conveniences, and Solar lights for all day and evening businesses and there is no doubt the effort will further developments of such markets for bigger commercial activities.
In empowering the people for economic prosperity, the Umunneochi Mayor has supported some petty traders with cash donations ranging from ₦30,000.00 to ₦100,000.00, to enable them to improve in their business.
On Information Communication Technology, Mayor Afurobi in his resolve towards ensuring that our youths are meaningfully engaged, sponsored and trained thirty (30) youths of for three (3) months on advanced ICT, and were given laptops.
Currently, another batch of fifty Umunneochi Youths are on another three months training on advanced ICT in Aba, sponsored by this reliable and youths friendly administration of Mayor Afurobi, and already, the desired results are being felt and achieved.
In the area of entertainment; the current administration has invested time and funds to build Umunneochi Nollywood to enable the indigenes to tell our stories, though it experienced some hitches which is currently Bing addressed to strategically engage our youths.
In the words of the Mayor Umunneochi Local Government, in a few weeks ahead, the following projects will commence:
- A big capacity piggery covering 22 plots of land, with a feed mill. The farm is planned to hold at least 2000 mature pigs at a time. From this farm, we will drive training of our youths and interested people on skills and at the same time empower them after. We will create 2 butchers per political ward to support income to families, sell piglets at best prices to build more farms in the LGA. Provide consultations to pig farmers. One of the primary purposes is to provide alternative sources of protein to our people.
- We are establishing about 20 hectares of cassava farms in the first instance. There will be a cassava processing center to produce Carri and other products from cassava that will be labelled Umunneochi dry garri. These farms will employ our youths/ women who want to work. We will also from time to time distribute cassava stems to farmers. We want to create many more farms to occupy our idle lands. Do not worry, our cassava processing farms target to buy up any excess cassava tubers in the LGA at a competitive price each time. That Carri brand will be one of our prides.
Going forward, communities or families who provide land for agriculture will enter into agreement with the government. The government will fund the investments and agreements will be reached on profit management from such ventures.
- We will start road shoulders clearing to keep the road clear and give our drivers and road users clearer views of the roads for security reasons.
- We will provide palliatives on more roads this season Withe the plethora of harvests are on ground, there is no doubt that the people of Umunneochi made a good choice in electing Chief Sunny Afurobi as their Mayor.
These indelible marks are there for all to see.
To God be the glory.
Scripted by.
Mayor Afurobi Media Team.
