Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has commenced the rehabilitation and redevelopment of a 60-year-old abandoned veterinary facility at Izhiangbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
The facility, being developed under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), is expected to support veterinary education, livestock production, agricultural development and animal healthcare in Ebonyi State.
Nwifuru disclosed this while inspecting the ongoing project, stating that the development was part of his administration’s efforts to expand economic opportunities and create employment for residents.
According to the governor, the facility is projected to generate about 2,000 jobs when fully operational.
The project sits on a large expanse of land and is planned to accommodate a veterinary college, modern abattoirs, a veterinary hospital, grazing reserves with a capacity for about 2,000 herders, as well as agricultural production areas for piggery, grasscutter farming and other ruminants.
Nwifuru said contracts had been awarded for the construction of the first 27 buildings out of 86 planned structures.
The structures include administrative blocks, student hostels, staff quarters and lecture theatres, with construction already underway.
“We have 295 hectares of land here. We are going to build about 27 buildings in the first instance. The contract for the construction of the 27 buildings have all been awarded,” the governor said.
He explained that work on some components of the project, particularly access roads, had been affected by the rainy season.
However, he said full construction activities were expected to resume in November 2026.
The governor also appealed to residents of the host community to protect the project and demonstrate a sense of ownership throughout the construction process.
Nwifuru expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of the community so far, saying there had been no reports of theft or other disruptions involving contractors working on the project.
“We are looking at an employment level of about 2,000 workforce here. I thank you for your cooperation as I have not received any news of stealing and social violations,” he said.
The Ebonyi governor also expressed optimism that several buildings would be completed before the end of December.
He said, “I can assure you that by December this year, many buildings here will be completed.”
Speaking during the inspection tour, the Ebonyi State Government’s L-PRES consultant, Dr Usman Ali Lawan, said the project was designed to improve livestock production and bring it closer to international standards.
Lawan added that the facility would contribute to employment generation and economic opportunities for residents.
He commended Governor Nwifuru for supporting the redevelopment of the facility and for investing in projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of the people.
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