From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
A renewed hope to re-invent Oji River as one of the viable townships in Nigeria and unbundle the numerous potentials in its communities to enhance development was rekindled at the one-day Economic and Development summit, held at the local government headquarters on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
The Summit with theme, “Investment Opportunities In Oji River LGA and Projections for the next 30 Years”,the first of it’s kind in the history of Oji River local government area was organized by it’s Council administration led by Hon.Greg.Anyaegbudike.
The Enugu state Governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah,ably represented by the State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Mrs Adaora Chukwu, described Oji River local government as a preferred investment destination in the South East zone, Nigeria.She reiterated Governor Mbah’s commitment to creating enabling environment for business to thrive in the state, especially encouraging local enterprises to attain full scale production.
The various stakeholders comprising of political leaders,Captains of Industries and development experts who spoke at the event recalled the significant role Oji River as a town played in the growth of the defunct Eastern Region economy. They X-rayed the vast socio economic potentials and natural deposits in it’s communities as capable of turning Oji River local government area into an investment destination point.
The Senate Minority Whip and Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Osita Ngwu, in his remarks said that Oji River Local Government Area is blessed with both human and natural resources to enhance socio economic development of the area.He emphasized that he is currently constructing three rural roads within Oji River local government area that would endear development in Oji River as part of his Constituency projects.
Hon Engr. Anayo Onwuegbu FNSE, representing ANINRI/AWGU/OJI-RIVER Federal Constituency in the National Assembly made a passionate appeal for all hands to be on deck, advising that all concerned citizens of Oji River Council area should get involved in the task of transforming Oji River as another economic hub in Enugu state and beyond.
He stated,We have all it takes to transform Oji River.Let us bring our money back home.
If we don’t make effort to develop Oji River, Nobody will do it for us.
If we don’t task the Federal government to develop the gas deposits at Ugwuoba, Nobody will do it for us.
Hon.Onwuegbu stated further, “We would not leave Oji River the way it is.We shall make conscious efforts to develop Oji River.We are lucky to have Governor Peter Mbah who is eager for developing our rural areas as governor”.
Hon.Engr.Anayo Onwuegbu’s on going Constituency projects in Oji River Council area includes the reconstruction and expansion of Achi Joint General Hospital, the reconstruction of Ugwuoba market road, the grading of rural roads in Inyi, Erosion control project and Solar light in Akpugoeze,among others.
The Executive Director, Projects, South East Development Commission (SEDC),Rt Hon.Toby Okechukwu, discussed that his commission is developing a master plan of developing the South East zone, describing Oji River local government area as on the edge of opportunity.”As a town between two state capitals Awka and Enugu,Oji River should be thinking outwards economically”,Hon.Okechukwu advised.
Rear Admiral Allison Madueke(rtd), Civilian Governor of Old Anambra state,in his short speech made a passionate appeal for the reactivation of Oji River Thermal Power station, since there are coal deposits in Enugu state.
He stressed that the use of Thermal Power station is still in vogue in United States of America.
His words,”Power supply is a critical factor. If you must run a factory with generators,you can hardly survive.Power supply should be subsidized.The Oji River Thermal station in the past provided the entire South East zone with power.Today,We are out of power.
“We must have to restore the Thermal Power station at Oji River,USA still runs thermal power supply.We should be able to reactivate that power station Power is very critical
A concerned citizen, Dr Magnus Chukwuekezie, who is a banker by profession,in his lecture titled,”Is Oji River Ready for Investor?”stressed that Governor Mbah is targeting to grow Enugu state Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from $4 billion to $30 billion in 2031.He questioned how much Oji River local government can contribute in making the dream a realistic and what percentage of such investments will flow into Oji River local economy.
Dr Chukwuekezie emphasized that the Oji River economy must revolve from subsistence farming and informal trading to establishment of factories and industries.
He lamented that Oji River economy is currently operating at a low to medium income level,with limited infrastructures to support major Industrial or technology driven investments.
His words,”Oji River once held notable investments across various sectors, spanning colonial times through the 1990’s,spearheaded by governments,missionaries,communities and private individuals”.
He mentioned some of the government established infrastructures and institutions that once flourished in Oji River local government area to include the Oji River Thermal Power station, School of Health Technology,Oji River, Teachers Training College, Akpugoeze,Oji River General Hospital,Inyi Cottage Hospital,the Oji River forestry Reserves, the Oji Tannery, among others.
According to him, the private sector investments include the Izundu Hospital,Dorah Memorial Hospital,Omire Hospital,Alfred Obika School of Nursing,Galaxy Paints,Hems Biscuits,Mark Lint’s,Emyson Hotels and Petrol station, among others.
Dr Chukwuekezie in his lecture appreciated the upsgringing private sector initiatives in the Hospitality sector,few Industries and factories but advocated for evolution in the technology sector.”But we’re still behind in building the next generation of opportunities,No tech hubs,No Industrial clusters,No incubation centers,Dr Chukwuekezie stated.
Amidst those challenges, Dr Chukwuekezie described Oji River as a fertile ground for investment,spotlighting the opportunities that exist in almost all the communities in Oji River local government area.
In Commercial Agriculture, He mentioned Ugwuoba ,Inyi,Obune, Umuagu. communities as very ripe for Cassava,Maize and Yam production.While Achi and Awlaw communities are good for large scale production of Cashew and Palm Plantains.
He spotted Akpugoeze community as a belt for mechanized farming in Rice while Ugwuoba -Amansea communities are best for Cattle ranching and Abattoir.
Further in his lecture, Dr Magnus Chukwuekezie advocated for the revitalization of the Oji River Thermal Power station to energize the expected Tech hubs,which according to him are best sited at Inyi and Oji Urban, the ideal centers for Youths led Innovations.
He stressed that between Ugwuoba and Oji Urban has potentials for investments in the Real Estate sector because of their proximity to Awka,the Anambra state capital and Enugu metropolis,the capital of Enugu state.
To achieve the above targeted goals and objectives, Dr Magnus Chukwuekezie, in his lecture advised that Oji River Council administration should set up a Local Investment Promotion Office with a data base, website and resource center.Ensure Community driven security such as organized vigilante groups and intelligent networks
He advocated for Public Private Partnerships(PPP) in executing water,road,schools and some other projects which are for public interest. He described local investors as most dependable partners who must be considered first.
Concluding his lecture,Dr Chukwuekezie affirmed that Oji River is ready for investments and will welcome investors.
His words,”Oji River has the potential. But potential without preparation is just wishful thinking. The time has come for us to rise above rhetoric and deliver results.
“Let this summit mark a new dawn. Let our message to the world be clear:+ Oji River is not just ready for investment,We are ready to compete.We are ready to grow.We are ready to lead”.
Dame Ugochi Madueke ,the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, in her lecture delivered at the event said that Oji River Local Government Area said Oji River posseses the potential to become a regional tourist destination.
She disclosed that up to 25 tourism sites that can attract international tourists are found and awaiting to be developed in several communities in Oji River. She said the natural cave that stretches from Awlaw in Oji River Council area upto Owerri Ezukala,s border town in Anambra state. Another natural cave at Arum Inyi which can accommodate up to 500 tourists,at a time.
Dame Ugochi Madueke stated,” Our land resonates beyond border.It is a symbol of what Oji River represents.Oji River is historical to Enugu and Nsukka. Oji River sits at the verge of Enugu,Anambra and Abia states. We are a strategic town.That provides us with several Opportunities”.
She stressed that the development of the various tourist sites in Oji River local government area will provide gainful employment opportunities for unemployed Youths in the state. In addition, will serve as a strategy of curtailing insecurity in the state.
She explained when the tourist sites are developed and guided by its workers,,,Criminals will be compelled to stay away from such sites to avoid been caught by security agencies.
Other lectures that marked the event were delivered by Dr. Sam Ogbu Nwobodo, the Chief Executive Officer,Enugu State Investment development Authority,Barr.Patrick Okorie ,the Enugu State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development,Hon VinMartin Obiora Iloh, CEO,Signature Television,Mr Chijioke Okonkwo,Chief Executive Officer,Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC).
The Oji River local government chairman,Hon.Greg.Anyaegbudike said that the summit is a mission fulfilled as stated in campaign manifesto, prior to his election.
He stressed that his administration is committed to revolutionizing Oji River from a mere junction town to an industrial town, utilizing the vast socio economic potentials and natural deposits available in it’s communities.
In line with disruptive innovation agenda of Governor Peter Mbah led administration in Enugu state,Hon.Greg Anyaegbudike is currently reconstructing the dilapidated portion of Oji River to Achi to Awgu federal road between Oji junction and the Nigerian Police College Oji River, an estimated distance of one kilometer. The road will be asphalted.
He has earlier flagged off the grading of roads to link the Smart Green School in each of the 20 wards in Oji River, the same for each of the 20 Type 2 Hospital being erected in every ward in the Oji River local government area,just as the 20 Farm Estates to be established in the 20 wards will also be made accessible by roads.
From all indication, the manifestations from Oji River Economic and Development Summit will add to the desire of re-inventing Oji River to contribute positively in gingering it’s local,state and the nation’s economy as it did in times past.
From the records, Oji town had a symbiotic relationship with Enugu as the capital of Eastern region..While coal was dug and freight to Oji River to ignite the Thermal station at Oji River,
Oji River in return supplied the electricity with which several industrie in Enugu were powered.
The colonialists also established a forestry reserve in Oji River under lease from which Gmelina trees planted and caught to enhance the coal mining industries.
Currently,Oji River town is lagging behind in terms of socio economic development and material resources to state and National development.The pace of development in the town and it’s surrounding communities seems to be on decline or stagnant amidst the fact that those natural deposits that initially made the town great are still there and new ones discovered .
Defining and seeking ways of solving these hindrances,so as to fastrack socio economic and instrastructtural development of Oji River is the basis on which the April 22 Oji River Economic and Development Summit was initiated,captured the attention of the stakeholders and other participants beyond the shores of the local government area.
Obviously,the Council administration led by Hon Greg.Anyaegbudike has set the stage for a new beginning for Oji River local government area.
