● Ferdy Agu
••• Set December 2025 Deadline to End Open Defecation
The Enugu State Economic Planning Commission has resolved to advance Governor Peter Mbah’s vision of establishing farm estates across all 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. Rising from its first meeting in 2025, the commission also set a December 2025 deadline to eliminate open defecation across the state.
Briefing journalists at Government House, Enugu, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Enugu State and Nkanu East LGA Chairman, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, alongside Igbo Etiti LGA Chairman, Hon. Eric Odo, and Udenu LGA Chairman, Hon. Aka Eze Aka, underscored the government’s commitment to these initiatives.
Edeh emphasized the governor’s comprehensive approach to development, stating, “We had fruitful deliberations on several issues, including the establishment of farm estates in all 260 wards. Just as the governor is executing 260 Smart Schools and 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), he is fully committed to delivering 260 farm estates. The aim is to effectively govern our spaces and combat insecurity through food security.”
He cited the Ekpofu farm estate in Nkanu East as a model, explaining that “the 200-hectare facility is well-fenced and equipped with a warehouse and accommodation for farmers and workers. These estates will be fully modernized, providing all necessary farming infrastructure.”
An Agricultural enthusiast, Louis Chukwudi Ani, lauded the initiative, describing it as “a visionary step towards agricultural self-sufficiency and rural development in Enugu State.” He urged local governments to embrace the plan, noting that “sustainable food production is a critical pillar for economic growth.”
Edeh further revealed that the commission mandated council chairmen to construct access roads to these farm estates, adding that Governor Mbah had reiterated his administration’s willingness to support local governments beyond the 60% state counterpart funding for capital projects.
On the issue of sanitation, Igbo Etiti LGA Chairman, Dr. Odo, reaffirmed the commitment to ending open defecation by December 2025. “At the end of our meeting, it was agreed that by December 31, 2025, every local government area in Enugu State should be officially declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). We are proud to be leading this effort in the South East,” he said.
To strengthen waste management, the commission resolved to enhance collaboration between the Enugu State Waste Management Agency (ESWAMA) and the local government councils. A public policy analyst described this as “a strategic alignment of local governance with the state’s development agenda, ensuring that no part of Enugu is left behind.”
Speaking on infrastructure development, Udenu LGA Chairman, Hon. Aka Eze Aka, stressed the importance of improving road access to critical facilities. “Local government chairmen have been tasked with constructing paved roads leading to every Smart Green School and Primary Healthcare Centre within their jurisdiction. This is one of the key resolutions we reached,” he stated.
A community development expert commended the focus on rural infrastructure, stating that “good roads to schools, healthcare centers, and farms will improve access, enhance productivity, and boost local economies.”
With these resolutions, the Enugu State Government and its local councils have set an ambitious course toward agricultural transformation, improved sanitation, and infrastructural development, reinforcing their commitment to grassroots development. GMTNewsng
