With utmost display of solidarity, the traditional ruler, Igwe Emmanuel Egwuaba, and stakeholders of the Ogurugu community in Enugu State have made a resounding commitment to support and donate land for the establishment of a proposed naval base. This momentous development was announced by Igwe Egwuaba and his constituents during a recent visit by a joint committee comprising representatives from both the federal and state governments.
The committee, headed by Enugu State's Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, and Rear Admiral Chijioke Onyemaobi representing the federal government, received a jubilant welcome from the community. The traditional ruler expressed his community's gratitude to the government for its intervention and expressed optimism that the naval base would stimulate the local economy by attracting investments and fostering essential amenities like hospitals, schools, and markets.
The Ogurugu community, consisting of nine villages, wholeheartedly pledged to cooperate with the government by offering their land for the project's success. Igwe Egwuaba emphasized the potential positive impacts of the naval base on their predominantly agricultural community. He highlighted how the waterways provided by the base would facilitate the transportation of their agricultural produce to markets, ultimately bolstering their local economy.
Former local government chairman and community stakeholder, Chief James Ademu, underscored the unity that the proposed project had brought to the community. The different villages came together with a shared determination to ensure the project's success, promising to donate any portion of the community's land that the Nigerian Navy chooses for the base.
Rear Admiral Onyemaobi expressed gratitude for the community's warm welcome and underscored the need for cooperation between the local populace and military personnel stationed at the naval base. He assured the community that the waterways were suitable for the base's establishment and emphasized its strategic importance for national security.
The Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, acknowledged the historical significance of the area and its potential to drive economic growth. He highlighted the importance of local cooperation in ensuring the project's success and pledged the state government's commitment to acquire land for the project's various facilities.
The community's council chairman, Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie, expressed gratitude for the prioritization of security and pledged unwavering support from the local government. Notable attendees of the event included government officials, naval officers, and other key stakeholders who shared the vision of a prosperous and secure Ogurugu community.
In essence, the Ogurugu community's unwavering commitment to supporting the naval base project showcases a collective determination to drive economic growth and enhance security, ultimately benefiting both the local population and the entire nation.
