The ongoing construction of the federal government’s multi-billion Naira “Renewed Hope” Bio-Methanol Pilot Plant in Akpugo, Enugu State, has been halted by the Chairmen of Nkanu West and Nkanu East Local Governments, Mr. John Ogbodo and Mr. Sidney Edeh, respectively.
Reports indicate that the two council leaders, accompanied by police officers, visited the construction site over the weekend, where they allegedly arrested construction workers and confiscated batteries from the machinery used for the installation of the plant. These actions caused a disruption of work at the site.
In a phone interview, Nkanu West LGA Chairman, Ogbodo, denied the incident, while his counterpart in Nkanu East did not respond to inquiries. Enugu Police Spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, also stated that he was unaware of the situation.
However, an official from the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), a federal agency under the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, confirmed that the council chairmen, accompanied by the police, halted the construction activities.
The plant, which is valued at over N40 billion, is the first of its kind in West Africa and was introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the people of the Southeast.
The Energy Commission alleged that Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah had directed the police to arrest the contractors working on the project.
Those detained included Ambrose Edeh, Chibuike Edeh, Monday Nwodo, Obinna Samuel, Ebuka Chukwurah, Chibuike Okereke, and Maduabuchi Okoro.
The workers were initially detained at the RRS Government House in Enugu, before being moved to the Anti-Kidnapping section of the State CID. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, intervened and ordered the immediate release of the detainees.
Once operational, the N40 billion bio-methanol plant is expected to address many of Nigeria’s and Africa’s industrial needs. Along with a similar N60 billion Solar PV project for solar panel production, both initiatives are among the largest in the Southeast and are key to President Tinubu’s administration’s development efforts.
