Governing Council of FUNAI Urges Ebonyi to Complete Road Project, Resolve Land Dispute

The newly constituted Governing Council of Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) has urged the state authorities to complete the 18-kilometres road leading to the school and pledged to wade into the land acquisition for the University and payment of compensation to the landowners.

The council made the plea during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, an engineer at the Government House, Abakaliki, where they among other things condoled him on the death of his mother and asked for more partnership between the State Government and the University.

The Council took time out to pay a The Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Mba Uzoukwo, who spoke on behalf of the Council prayed the Governor to expedite action on the relocation of the indigenes in the university land to avoid their competing for space and future clash between them.

He also pleaded with Ebonyi State Government to complete the 18-km road leading to the school as visitors would soon be streaming to the school for its first convocation.
He also asked for the reticulation of the Oferekpe Megawater scheme to the school as well as linking the already stringed electricity line of the university to the national grid through the Itigidi-Abakaliki line and land for the University’s liaison office and pre-degree progamme in Abakaliki.
The Pro-Chancellor said the University would partner with the State in its agro-business programme especially as regards local cattle breeding and poultry production, and lauded the infrastructural development of the young state under Governor Umahi.

Responding, Governor Umahi thanked them for the visit and for identifying with his family in time of grief and assured that they State would assist the University in every ramification.

Governor Umahi directed the Commissioner for Lands to within seven days furnish him with the status of land acquisition for the University and payment of compensation so as to relocate the indigenes in the University premises.

The Governor promised to allocate land for the University’s liaison office as well as donate the present College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) of Ebonyi State University to FUNAI for its pre-degree progammes when they vacate in the next few months.

He also assured that Ebonyi State Government would assist the Faculty of Engineering to take off the ground in view of its importance in the development of the state, promising also to make a personal endowment for the Faculty.