The Mayor of Bende Local Government Area of Abia State Barrister Chijioke Nwankwo has once again reassured Bende residents that he is prepared to give quality leadership with a special focus on agricultural development.
The council boss in an interaction with journalists to mark his 100 days in office as the mayor of Bende LGA revealed that the council is making steady progress despite challenges.
He narrated that Governor Otti has shown capacity within the time frame he has been on the saddle adding that nothing less was expected from them than to replicate his developmental agenda in the rural areas.
On assumption of office on November 30th 2023, mayor Nwankwo made his intentions of developing the council known to his good people of Bende LGA and and asked all to cooperate with him to achieve the needed results for the council.
Contrary to nay sayers Mayor Nwankwo proved that with the right political will power, no group of people can be more powerful than a constituted authorities.
He started with sensitization and sanitising the council of miscreants, thereby providing a conducive atmosphere for businessmen and motorists to operate in the council without being assaulted.
The Mayor equally declared a state of emergency on refuse disposal in the council, today residents of the council now breath fresh air because of assiduous efforts of the mayor to keep Bende clean.
Addressing administrative inefficiencies, “when we came on board, a lot of things were out of place in the council”
“We started by prioritizing and addressing administrative inefficiencies, especially among the LG employees”.
“Measures were taken in this regard, tackling issues such as staff absenteeism from work, negligence to duty and of importance promoting a more dedicated and productive work ecosystem” he stated.
The massive infrastructural transformations that is on going in the council with more than seven roads already graded is a testament that Bende people are beginning to feel the impacts of good governance.
Recognizing the importance of accessibility within the local government, Mayor Nwankwo launched what he calls “Operation Make Our Rural Roads Motorable”.
This project’s first phase successfully graded and rehabilitated roads in Okporoenyi, Uzuakoli, Nkpa, Item, Ugwueke, and Umuhu, easing movement and improving connectivity within neighbouring communities within the council.
Mayor Nwankwo has also paid strong attention at improving on the ease of doing business in the council by encourage the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprise especially in the area of agribusiness.
Looking towards long-term agricultural development, Mayor Nwankwo in collaboration with the state government and Ministry of Agriculture, facilitated delegates from the Bulgarian government and CSS Integrated Farms, Nassarawa State, to Bende to explore potential partnerships in mechanized farming, skills acquisition training for the youths, and the establishment of agricultural industries.
Supporting Rice Farmers, in line with the vision of transforming Bende into the food basket of Abia State, the Mayor distributed special breed of rice seedlings for cultivation and essential agricultural chemicals to targeted rice farmers within the local government.
This initiative is intended to boost massive rice production and enhance agricultural productivity within the local government.
Promoting Sports Participation, Mayor Nwankwo made sure Bende LGA actively participated in the recent concluded Abia State Governor’s secondary school sports games, demonstrating his administration’s commitment to youth development and community engagement.
Construction of Multi-Purpose Sports Courts
To promote recreational activities and youth development, Mayor Nwankwo initiated the construction of a 3-in-1 sports court complex at the council headquarters, encompassing basketball, volleyball, and handball facilities to develop talents who has shown interest in these kinds of sports.
Rebuilding of the council headquarters
The renovation work according to the mayor will cover various sections within the council quarters including the council multipurpose hall, health block, seclog/legislative block, administrative block, library complex of the council, works department, mayor and the deputy mayor’s lodges.
But the most important aspect of these dividends of democracy is the enhancementof the security architecture in the local government.
The operation goals is to chase criminals out of the council, tracking down drugs peddling and at the same time eradicating the sale of illegal substances in the council.
The Mayor is resilient and not relenting in his pursuits of restoring the loss glory of Bende LGA.
According to “this initial 100 days have successfully laid down a foundation for progress, all we are asking is patients, cooperation to deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of Bende Local Government Area as envisioned by Gov Alex Otti” he said.
