Federal Government is to take over the management of the University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State, as a Federal Medical University.
President Muhammadu Buhari made the pronouncement at a state dinner in his honour, in response to a request by Governor Dave Umahi on the university, located in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the State.
The President told the people of Ebonyi that the process for the change of ownership of the university was on and would be concluded soon.
On the request by the State Governor to buy airport equipment valued at 10 billion Naira, the President promised to find out the position of the Ministry of Aviation regarding that.
The President thanked the State Government for the honour of naming the State International Airport and the magnificent 4-way Light Tunnel after him.
He expressed confidence that these facilities and many more would further the frontiers of economic development in Ebonyi State in particular and the nation at large.
President Buhari, who assured the government and people of Ebonyi State of the support of his administration to enable the Governor to accomplish his vision for the State, thanked them for the reception accorded him during the two-day state visit.
The President recounted that the last time he visited the state in 2017 in the 2nd quarter of the first tenure of Governor Umahi’s administration, he witnessed the commencement of mind-blowing projects, saying he saw in Governor Umahi a strong desire to change the narrative of the State and meet the aspirations of the founding fathers.
He commended the state for emerging as the second overall best in fiscal performance in Nigeria and for soaring high in fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.
Governor Umahi, while thanking the President for the various assistance to the state, said the financial assistance of infrastructural refund, payee refund, Paris club, bailout funds, agricultural loans, fertilizer support and budgetary funds were instances of great support to all states of the federation.
As Chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum, he thanked President Buhari for all the approvals made for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge, which is almost completed, rehabilitation of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, reconstruction of Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Awka Expressway.
The Governor pledged the support of Ebonyi people and other southeasteners, saying that they value greatly the President’s fatherly love and fair disposition to the plights of the people.
Before the dinner, the President had inaugurated Office Complex of the Wife of the Governor, Akanu Ibiam Lodge, Ebonyi House, Light Tunnel Flyover and the Ebonyi Shopping Mall.
BELLO WAKILI