A Chieftain of a socio- political advocacy group, the Etche Development Agenda(EDA), Mr. Sebastian Ukaegbu, has affirmed that the Executive Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Hon. Chima Boniface Njoku, is steadily repositioning Etche through bold infrastructural priorities with rural electrification emerging as the defining hallmark of his administration.
Mr. Ukaegbu who made the assertion in an interview with our Correspondent stressed that the Council boss remains a grassroots- focused political leader, whose governance philosophy is rooted in rural development and people- first administration.
“The light we now see in Etche is not just electricity, it is leadership. As a product of local political mentorship and community engagement, Njoku emerged with clear promise as, in the case of prioritizing infrastructure, empowering local residents, the restoration of peace among the people in the area, and the improvement of social welfare for the well-being of the electorate in the LGA.
Mr. Ukaegbu explained that during his electioneering campaign, Hon. Chima Njoku publicly pledged that his administration would focus on human capital development, local economic empowerment and infrastructural renewal, noting that his leadership approach has been widely described as community-driven governance anchored on practical results.
He pointed out that perhaps the most visible symbol of the Chairman’s governance impact remains his aggressive rural electrification initiatives, stating that within a short period in office, his dispensation procured 5000 KVA transformer for nearly all the 19 wards in Etche, strengthening power supply across communities, the integration of the LGA into Band A electricity supply under Aba distribution network, and ensured consistent payment of electricity bills to sustain supply.
The EDA Chieftain noted that these steps have boosted local commerce, improved agro- processing activities, reduced rural- urban migration pressure, revival of Etche’s status as a food production hub, noting that where darkness once discouraged enterprise for decades of years ago, light now encourages productivity.
He maintained that upon assumption of office, Hon. Chima Njoku identified the presence of land grabbing activities by criminal-minded elements in the area, insecurity, power shortages as key structural threats to Etche’s development, noting that his administration responded by tackling land grabbing through task force interventions, mediating on disputes directly at community level, and the establishment of security coordination structures, among others.
Mr. Ukaegbu said that these moves were commended by civil society and the media stakeholders, including, the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Rivers State Council, which described his early achievements as unprecedented within months of assumption of office.
He stated that to enhance governance efficiency, Hon. Njoku appointed strategic aides, established anti- dredging and land protection committees, and the provision of operational vehicles to legislative officers, noting that these measures strengthened executive-legislative cooperation at the local level.
Mr. Ukaegbu further said that the electrification drive is already triggering expansion of small businesses, growth of cottage industries, the improvement of security through night-time visibility, and youth engagement opportunities, emphasizing that in a symbolic welfare gesture, the administration also earmarked 120 million naira for landed property support for Councillors aimed at long-term stability after public service.
He however, noted that citizens of Etche Local Government Area now expect the administration of the Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Hon. Chima Njoku, to expand its gains into road rehabilitation, reconstruction, youth skills acquisition, agricultural value- chain development, educational support, and rural healthcare delivery, among other deman
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