President Muhammadu Buhari’s last week engagements included a two-day working visit to Ebonyi where he inaugurated developmental projects and also announced ‘bonanza’ for the people and government of the state.
The bonanza to the people included the taking over of the management of the State University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi, as a Federal Medical University.
The president made the pronouncement at a state dinner in his honour on May 6 in Abakaliki, in line with an initial request by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi to this effect.
The university is located in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.
The president told the people that the process for the change of ownership of the university was on and ‘‘will be concluded soon”.
On the request by the state governor to buy airport equipment valued at N10 billion, the president promised to find out the position of the Ministry of Aviation regarding that.
During the two-day visit, the president inaugurated some projects at the University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, 5km dual carriage Airport Road and the airport Presidential Lodge as well as new Government House, Centenary City and reconstructed St. Margaret Umahi International Market complex, Abakaliki.
Other inaugurated projects included the Aisha Buhari Wife of Governor’s Office Complex, Akanu Ibiam Lodge (new Governor’s Lodge), Ebonyi House, Muhammadu Buhari Light Tunnel Flyover and Ebonyi Shopping Mall.
The president was also hosted to State Dinner by the Ebonyi State Government, on Thursday night.
Buhari, who expressed satisfaction with Umahi’s performance, said he was not surprised at the high quality of the projects, describing Umahi, a two-time governor, as an engineer of repute.
He concluded his visit to the state with a closed-door meeting with South East leaders in Abakaliki where he insisted that the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, must defend himself in court.
South East traditional, religious and political leaders made the appeal during the Town Hall meeting with Buhari in Abakaliki on Friday.
