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Beautification Of Enugu And Mechanization Of Median Strips/Road Verge Maintenance

Published

6 years ago

October 7, 2020

By Jeff Ejiofor

The saying that cleanliness is the next to godliness perfectly fits into the situation in Enugu State where a mechanized approach has been employed by the state government in maintaining median strips, road sidewalks, and central reservations across the state. Residents of the coal city will not forget in a hurry the manual method of median strips and road verge maintenance before 2015 when Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi took over the reign of leadership. In line with its technological approach to issues, the administration adopted a mechanized system of maintenance which has clearly given Enugu a scenic outlook befitting of a ranking state capital known for serene outlook.

Roundabouts, footways, road verges, and all other beautiful green areas in the city now wear the looks of a neat and clean environment. This is a sharp departure from their half hazard and unkempt condition in the past. A quick glance at this method where machines do the work will reveal a conspicuous difference from their previous rough looks and current carpet level. The introduction of this mechanized approach by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi also explains his meticulous disposition to leave no stone unturned in his quest to making Enugu a modern and beautiful city.

Ironically, people tend to have a short memory in this part of the world to the extent of forgetting their previous experiences whenever succor comes their way. It is appalling that some people do not realize the tourist potentials of a serene environment and its economic benefits. Enugu is a city with natural and fascinating features, hence, the policy of economic reinvigoration through harnessing of its existing tourist potentials by the current administration. It is a well-known fact that the tourist attraction of such an organized environment cannot be overstressed.

Unarguably, in the past, precisely before 2015, the state government, through the ministry of environment engaged the services of labourers, mostly women to clear these sidewalks manually. This method often left the surfaces haggard and rough, such that it made nonsense of the beautiful looks conferred on Enugu city by those consciously designed green areas and median strips.

Apparently, areas such as New Haven, Abakiliki Road, Okpara Avenue, GRA, Okpara Square, and Independence Layout now look more dignifying with this mechanized cutting and trimming process of the sidewalks/road verges. I know some ingrates and cynics may want to question the relevance or significance of this observation, forgetting to acknowledge its immense contributions to the beauty and tourism potentials of the city as stated earlier. Nobody will deny the fact that the machines used in carrying out this duty and their professional operators provide the best result on the environment which represents Enugu’s natural serenity.

Another interesting and commendable aspect is the sustained urgency with which the government always responds each time there is a need to carry out the maintenance, unlike in the past when weeds usually overgrew the streets in utter neglect. Of course, before assembling labourers for manual approach, the places will be taken over by bushes, making Enugu lose its glamour.

In addition, the governor also recruited over one thousand youths to open up all blocked water channels in the streets of Enugu. A policy that has served dual purposes, providing employment and sanitizing the city. We all know what the situation was before and its devastating effect on the health of the residents. The problem no doubt had far-reaching implications to the wellbeing of the citizens who had to spend money on hospital bills at times as a result of sicknesses arising from a dirty environment. All that is now history because Enugu has regained its original glory as a clean and organized city.

Finally, I implore lovers of tourism all over the world to avail themselves of this opportunity presented by the beautiful serenity of Enugu and visit the state. Apart from ensuring the preservation of the city’s natural features, the state government has equally enhanced the environment by beautifying strategic locations of the city with meaningful artworks and sculptors to tell the story of the people. New recreational outlets have also been created and old ones are given a facelift. Unity Fountain Park located behind the famous Okpara Square at Independence Layout is one of such outlets that will attend to the recreational needs of Enugu residents and promote tourism in the state.

The popular 3-star hotel, Nike Lake Resort, on the outskirt of the city is receiving proactive attention to play a pivotal role in the current tourist revolution of the city. These and many other measures that guarantee adequate security of lives and property have made Enugu State a place to be. Gburugburu is a gift to the Igbo nation at large and Enugu in particular.

Enugu is obviously in the safe hands of God with Gburus at the helms

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Strategic Partnerships, Diaspora Investment and Improved Workforce Critical to Industrialization-DG RMRDC

Published

19 hours ago

November 12, 2026

The Gleamer

By: Stella Azi and Adaora Adibe

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has called for a strategic shift from the exportation of raw commodities to domestic processing, manufacturing and value addition, declaring that Nigeria possesses enormous untapped raw material resources capable of driving industrialisation, creating jobs and strengthening the country’s economic competitiveness.

Prof. Ike-Muonso made this submission in a lecture titled Unlocking Nigeria’s Raw Material Value Chain for Industrialization, Manufacturing and Competitiveness, where he presented an extensive assessment of Nigeria’s resource endowments, industrial challenges and emerging investment opportunities across agricultural commodities, solid minerals and waste-based raw materials.

The lecture highlighted a combined US$2.65 trillion global market opportunity across 30 major raw material value chains, comprising 12 agricultural value chains valued at US$932 billion, 11 mineral value chains worth US$1.352 trillion and seven circular-economy value chains estimated at US$366 billion.

According to the RMRDC Boss, Nigeria must move beyond the traditional approach of extracting and exporting raw materials to building competitive domestic industries that transform these resources into intermediate products, industrial inputs and finished goods for local consumption and international markets.

He observed that the country’s manufacturing sector has struggled to sustain its 2014 peak, with its contribution to real Gross Domestic Product declining from 9.64 per cent in 2014 to 8.05 per cent in 2025, representing a 16.5 per cent decline. He also drew attention to the increasing cost of raw material imports, which rose to US$20.5 billion in 2025, approximately six times the 2020 level.

He explained that the growing dependence on imported industrial inputs exposes Nigerian manufacturers to foreign exchange volatility, increases production costs and weakens the competitiveness of locally manufactured products.

Prof. ke-Muonso stressed that the solution lies in developing domestic raw material value chains through deliberate investment in processing facilities, research and development, technology, infrastructure and stronger linkages between producers, processors and manufacturers.

He identified agriculture, solid minerals and industrial waste as three major resource platforms for Nigeria’s industrial transformation, stating the country’s significant production capacity and the enormous opportunities available for downstream processing.

Ike-Muonso noted that Nigeria produces over 63 million metric tonnes of cassava annually, making it the world’s largest producer, while also maintaining strong positions in cocoa, cashew, sesame, palm oil and cotton. However, more than 80 per cent of agricultural output leaves farms without adequate processing, resulting in the loss of significant economic value and industrial opportunities.

In the solid minerals sector, he identified more than 44 commercially viable minerals across over 500 locations, including lithium, gold, barite, bitumen, iron ore and high-grade limestone, describing them as strategic resources capable of supporting steel production, energy storage, electrification and advanced manufacturing.

The DG further drew attention to Nigeria’s industrial and agro-waste resources, noting that the country generates over 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually. He explained that agricultural residues, cassava peels, scrap metals, plastics and electronic waste could serve as important feedstock for bio-fertilisers, industrial chemicals, recycled polymers, energy production and other manufacturing applications.

In the agricultural sector, the DG identified cassava and industrial starch, cotton and natural textiles, natural rubber and elastomers, oil palm and oleochemicals, maize derivatives and cocoa processing as priority areas requiring increased investment.

He explained that processing agricultural commodities into industrial starch, sweeteners, textiles, technical rubber, specialty fats and other intermediate products would enable Nigeria to capture more value from its agricultural resources while reducing dependence on imported industrial inputs.

For the minerals sector, he highlighted crude oil-to-olefins and petrochemicals, lithium and energy storage, iron ore and steel, rare earth elements, bauxite and aluminium, and copper and electrification as strategic investment opportunities.

He particularly emphasised the importance of moving beyond mineral extraction into beneficiation, refining, battery precursors, industrial chemicals, metal fabrication and advanced materials production.

On the circular economy, Prof. Ike-Muonso identified electronic waste recovery, scrap metal recycling, plastic waste processing, agro-waste valorisation and battery recycling as emerging industrial opportunities.

He explained that transforming waste into productive industrial feedstock would not only reduce environmental pollution but also create new manufacturing industries, generate employment and reduce the importation of valuable industrial materials.

He noted that to address the structural challenges confronting raw material-based industrialisation, the DG highlighted the strategic interventions of the RMRDC, particularly the proposed 30% Value Addition Bill and the Nigeria Integrated Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP).

He described the 30% Value Addition Bill as an important policy instrument designed to encourage domestic processing of raw materials before export, strengthen local manufacturing capacity and guarantee access to essential raw materials for Nigerian industries, and NISSRAMP as a critical data infrastructure that would improve access to verified information on the availability, location and quality of raw materials.

According to him, the combination of appropriate policy instruments and reliable resource data would help de-risk investments, improve transparency and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s raw material sector.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration among government, academia and industry in developing bankable projects, sharing investment risks and accelerating the establishment of processing and manufacturing facilities.

Professor Ike-Muonso called on Nigerians in the diaspora and other local and international investors to take advantage of the opportunities available in Nigeria’s raw material sector.

He identified industrial processing parks, mineral beneficiation and refining, agro-industrial platforms, circular-material processing, industrial input manufacturing and enabling infrastructure as viable investment platforms.

He noted that diaspora investors could contribute beyond financial capital by bringing technology, international business networks, governance standards, technical expertise and access to global markets.

He maintained that Nigeria’s industrial transformation requires coordinated investment across the entire value chain, from raw material sourcing and aggregation to processing, manufacturing, certification and export development.

Professor Ike-Muonso stressed that the country’s industrial future would depend not merely on the volume of raw materials extracted but on the capacity to transform them into competitive products that meet domestic and international market requirements.

He maintained that developing local value chains would stimulate industrial growth, create employment opportunities, diversify exports, conserve foreign exchange and deepen Nigeria’s technological capabilities.

Through its strategic interventions, the RMRDC is positioning itself as a critical bridge between resource availability, investment opportunities and industrial competitiveness, with the ultimate objective of transforming Nigeria from a predominantly raw material exporting economy into a strong manufacturing and value-adding nation.

Ike-Muonso has demonstrated this since assumption of office as the Director General/ CEO RMRDC in the area of capacity building, improved working conditions, promotion of merit, and maintaining a conducive environment that rewards excellence, innovation and dedication. This is evident in his institution of RMRDC training school, reward for winners of the RMRDC innovation challenge among others.

His commitment has brought recognition both nationally and internationally: Al-Jazirah double honour awards as Public Servant /Government Agency of the year 2024-2025 and the recent election as the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Representative on the Board of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO) is a attestation to his commitment.

Concluding the lecture, the DG charged staff, researchers, manufacturers and investors to see themselves as nation builders in the new era of raw materials-led industrialization.

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