Stakeholders in Enugu and Ebonyi States have hailed the deliberate efforts of the State Governments to revive some of the industries that became moribund several decades ago.

The people spoke in separate interviews in Enugu and Abakiliki.

They ‌‍‍‍⁠⁠‌‍‌⁠⁠‍⁠‍‌‌expressed the hope that the initiative would help to open up the economy, create youth employment and enhance the internally generated revenue profile of the states.

Recall that Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has successfully revived the state-owned Niger Gas Ltd, while the resuscitation of Sunrise Flour Mills is still in progress.

Also, the resuscitation of the Enugu United Palm Products Ltd as well as the Songhai Farms have reached advanced stages.

The Niger Gas Ltd., a gas plant established by the government of the defunct Eastern Region, had been grounded for over 35 years.

Already, the company has commenced the production of acetylene, nitrogen, medical oxygen, and welding/process oxygen, with the creation of direct and indirect employment across its distribution, fabrication, transport, and supply chains.

In a similar vein, the State Government is making efforts to also revive Sunrise Flour Mill, Emene, Enugu, following the signing of a N40 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JELFAH Group. The mill had been moribund for over 40 years.

It has the capacity to produce flour, semolina, and wheat, and is expected to create both direct and indirect jobs along it’s supply, distribution, transportation, agricultural-development and related value-chains, when completed.

The State Government is also set to revive the Enugu United Palm Products Ltd with the signing of N100 billion deal with Pragmatic Palms Limited in May 2024, after 35 years of its closure.

The company, which plans to increase its 6,700-hectare palm plantation to at least 20,000-hectare in five years, targets over 3,500 direct and indirect jobs within the palm oil and its related products value-chains.

The government has also commenced the process of resuscitating its 10,000-hectare Enugu Tribu Songhai Farms in Ezeagu Local Government Area, with access roads rehabilitated and 54 fish ponds already constructed.

Rehabilitation work is currently ongoing on the piggeries, poultry units, water systems, residential facilities and training centres in the farm.

The government also revitalised a privately owned Enugu-based vehicle manufacturing and assembly plant, otherwise known as ANAMMCO Limited, with patronage in terms of auto-mobile training for thousands of youths in the state.

The automobile company is also handling the repair of broken-down mass transit buses as well as other transport servicing projects meant to revive the state’s transport sector.

Speaking on the initiatives, a community leader in Enugu, Dr John Egbo, said that Mbah’s administration had done well in revitalising industries with great impact on the state economy.

Chief Leonard Ugwu, the President of the 9th Mile Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines And Agriculture (9CCIMA), Enugu State, commended Mbah for his focus on improving and rebuilding the economy of the state.

In a related development, stakeholders in Ebonyi have commended the State Government’s proposal to revitalise dead industries and also establish a new cement factory in Nkalagu.

Speaking in Abakiliki, the people said the cement factory, when established, would create jobs, and reduce cost of building materials in the state, South-East and Nigeria.

Recall that the government appropriated N150 billion in the 2026 budget for the new factory.

The State Government had cited some bottlenecks surrounding the reactivation of the old factory, Nigerian Cement Company (NIGERCEM), Nkalagu, as its reason for the plan to establish a new one.

In an interview, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Prof. Ogugua Egwu, applauded the government’s proposal for the establishment of new industries and revitalisation of the abandoned ones.

Egwu said the initiative, if properly implemented, would expand work space and improve the state’s economy.

The Director-General, state Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, Mr Stephen Odo, said that plans were also in the pipeline to revive the Ezzamgbo Pipe Production Company, Abakiliki Rice Mill, building materials, and perforation plants.

Odo, a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, said that the government was committed to resuscitating the industries to complement the civil and public service sectors in job creation.

A resident, Pius Ogbonnaya, said that reviving the old factories would bring back thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities for local residents and increase the state’s revenue generation capacity.

In Anambra, the Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, said the State Government was not considering revamping any moribund state-owned industry.

Mefor said Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration was interested in evolving a business environment that would be conducive for private sector investments.

Manchester City scored two late goals to earn Enzo Maresca a win in his first Premier League game in charge – and deny Marco Rose the perfect start as Bournemouth boss.

The Cherries took the first-half lead through Marcus Tavernier, who was left in loads of space to slam in after Evanilson’s incisive low ball across the area.

Erling Haaland, usually at his most prolific in August, missed a host of chances for City as they looked set for a frustrating afternoon.

But Marc Guehi, playing in defensive midfield for only the third time in his career, nodded in Rayan Cherki’s corner with six minutes to go.

And it got even worse for Bournemouth when Josko Gvardiol guided a shot into the bottom corner in injury time.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but given after a video assistant referee review.

It was Bournemouth’s first defeat in any competition since January, ending their club-record 18-game unbeaten run.

City showed improvement from the side who were bashed 3-0 by Arsenal in last Sunday’s Community Shield – but for most of this game it looked as if Maresca was going to start with consecutive defeats.

Replacing a legend is always difficult – as David Moyes experienced when Sir Alex Ferguson left neighbours Manchester United in 2013 – and the late comeback will come as a major relief in their first Premier League game without Pep Guardiola in a decade.

City did not exactly promote from within when hiring Maresca, who quit as Chelsea manager at the start of 2026, but the Italian was Guardiola’s City assistant in 2022-23 and would perhaps be seen as something of a continuity candidate.

It was a very shaky start though and they went 1-0 down at home on the opening day of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 1995-96 – the season they ended up being relegated.

Maresca’s team selection confused many, with six players who have played most of their City games in defence starting on Sunday – including Guehi in midfield.

But all’s well that ends well and Guehi looked as if he had rescued a point before defender Gvardiol added two more from another Cherki pass.

Things would have been more comfortable if Haaland had brought his shooting boots.

The Norwegian has scored 22 goals in 14 Premier League games in the month of August – but failed to take any of his five chances.

Bournemouth fans would have feared a dip after enjoying the best season in their history last campaign. Sixth place took them into Europe for the first time ever.

And it was a surprise when boss Andoni Iraola announced in April he would be leaving in the summer – eventually joining Liverpool.

Ex-Salzburg and Leipzig boss Rose was confirmed soon after – replacing Iraola at the end of last season, giving him plenty of time to watch from a distance and get to know his new team.

Only one of the side who started against City was a new signing, with Portuguese defender Antonio Silva the replacement for Marcos Senesi, who left for Tottenham.

The Cherries showed plenty of the aggressive, positive play that they produced under Iraola thanks to such dangerous attackers on the break – including Rayan, Evanilson and Tavernier, who all linked up well for the opening goal.

Letting the lead slip late on will be hugely frustrating and ends their long unbeaten run, but Rose, and Cherries supporters, should still have seen plenty to encourage them from a game they would not have expected to win.

And if they had picked up Guehi from a corner maybe they would have done.

The Edo House of Assembly on Tuesday dissolved all its standing committees and constituted an investigative panel to probe allegations levelled against the former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.

The new Speaker, Yekini Idaiye, announced the decision during the plenary session.

He said that the dissolution became necessary to enable the house to “re-evaluate legislative duties, improve administrative efficiency and give members new committee experience”.

Idaiye subsequently inaugurated a five-member ad-hoc committee to investigate Agbebaku over allegations of corruption, including inflated procurement costs for cars.

The committee, which was mandated to report back in two weeks, is chaired by Bright Iyamu.

Other members are representatives of Akoko Edo II; Ovia North East II; Etsako East; and Esan North East II.

Recall that Agbebaku resigned from office on Monday, August 17, following allegations of corruption and financial impropriety against him.

The house also received and adopted reports on the screening of nominees for key state commissions.

Dr David Osifo was confirmed as a member of the Edo Judicial Service Commission, while Oscar Onaiwu was confirmed as a member of the Local Government Service Commission.

The house also received a letter from Gov. Monday Okpebholo for the screening and confirmation of nominees for the Chairman and members of the Edo Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Shittu Shaibu was named to chair the screening committee for the nominees.

The house later adjourned sitting until August 19, 2026.