Enugu State – Nkanu East Local Government Area is fast emerging as a benchmark for grassroots development, under the visionary leadership of Hon. Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, chairman of the council and president of the Enugu State Association of Local Governments (ALGON).

Aligned with Governor Peter Mbah’s development agenda, Edeh’s administration has launched a comprehensive reform drive focused on modernizing infrastructure, boosting agriculture, and enhancing security, efforts that are reshaping the socio-economic landscape of the LGA.

Infrastructure Renewal

The council headquarters has been renovated with upgraded facilities, including a modern Plaster of Paris (POP) ceiling, while an ultra-modern 1,500-capacity conference hall is poised to host civic and administrative events. Road construction and rehabilitation remain central to the administration’s agenda. Ubahu Road has been graded and lateritized, and multiple feeder roads across the LGA have been improved to facilitate mobility and trade.

In Ugbawka, Nkerefi, and Mbulu-Owo, 7.5-meter culverts have been completed to tackle flooding and improve access to Smart Green Schools. Key bridge projects, including the Iyiakpu and Ojorowo Bridges, have restored critical connectivity across villages and neighboring Ebonyi State, resolving longstanding transportation challenges and reducing accidents.

A 13-kilometer Amafor/Obeagu Ugbawka road, complete with drainage systems, is near completion, while ongoing projects include access roads to Mbulu-Owo Smart School, fencing of smart schools, and installation of overhead water tanks across the wards.

Social Welfare and Human Development

Chairman Edeh has also prioritized human-centered initiatives. Four widows across Mburumbu, Ugbawka, Akpawfu, and Owo have received newly built two-bedroom bungalows. Staff salaries and allowances are fully up to date, benefiting over 500 employees, including ad-hoc workers and vulnerable residents.

Electricity supply has improved significantly, with solar-powered streetlights installed in Amafor-Ugbawka, new transformers energized in Akpa-Obeagu, Ihuona, and Obodo-Uvuru, and the previously abandoned Ugbawka–Nara–Nkerefi line revitalized, bringing power to more communities.

Agricultural Expansion

In line with the state’s 260-ward farm estate initiative, the council has cultivated a 50-hectare cassava farm near its headquarters and cleared over 100 hectares of the Agu-Udene forest, previously a security risk, for agricultural use. Local farmers have received free seedlings and high-yield cassava stems, driving rural economic empowerment and food security.

Enhanced Security

Security improvements include fencing of the Amagunze Police Station and staff quarters, and the establishment of a permanent Army base with a three-bedroom bungalow at Aguudele Akpawfu to anchor joint security operations.

Ongoing and Future Projects

Projects currently underway include remodeling the council perimeter fence, upgrading the Amagunze Cottage Hospital, and constructing a multipurpose hall at the council headquarters. Plans are also in motion to replicate farm estates across all 14 political wards of the LGA.

“These strides are not just projects but lifelines for our people, bridging divides, powering dreams, and securing futures,” Edeh remarked during a recent inspection tour.

Under his stewardship, Nkanu East is steadily transforming from a rural enclave into an emerging agro-industrial hub, exemplifying the impact of visionary local leadership in tandem with state development policies.