The Executive Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Uchenna Joseph Okolo, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to accelerating infrastructure, commerce, and tourism development across the council area following a comprehensive inspection tour of Orie Awgu Market and the ongoing projects at the Awgu Game Village.

The inspection exercise, which took place on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, brought together traditional rulers led by HRH Okeke Kingsley Uchechukwu, political leaders, community stakeholders, market executives, and other residents, as the council chairman assessed critical development needs aimed at improving the socio-economic fortunes of Awgu Local Government Area.

At Orie Awgu Market, one of the largest commercial hubs in Awgu, Hon. Okolo conducted an extensive tour of the market facilities to evaluate existing challenges confronting traders and to lay the foundation for what he described as a comprehensive redevelopment initiative that would transform the market into a modern commercial centre.

During the inspection, the chairman visited key sections of the market, including the foodstuff section, timber section, and livestock section where goats and cattle are traded, interacting directly with traders and listening to their concerns on infrastructure, accessibility, and business operations.

Addressing traders and stakeholders during the visit, Hon. Okolo assured them that the inspection signified the beginning of a major intervention by his administration to provide a befitting and modern market environment capable of stimulating commercial activities, creating employment opportunities, and enhancing economic growth within the local government.

He observed that despite its strategic importance to the local economy, Orie Awgu Market had remained underdeveloped for many years, stressing that there was no legal impediment preventing the full development of the market.

The council chairman assured all individuals and groups with legitimate interests in the market land that his administration would adopt an inclusive and transparent approach throughout the planning and implementation process.

To ensure fairness and accountability, Hon. Okolo announced plans to constitute a verification committee that would identify and verify all persons connected with the market land before the commencement of physical development.

He emphasized that no genuine stakeholder would be marginalized or victimized during the redevelopment exercise and appealed to market leaders, traders, and community stakeholders to cooperate fully with the local government in ensuring the successful execution of the project.

The chairman further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to people-oriented governance, noting that the redevelopment of Orie Awgu Market forms part of broader efforts to improve infrastructure, stimulate commerce, and create a more enabling environment for businesses to flourish across Awgu Local Government Area.

Responding on behalf of traders, the heads of the various market sections expressed profound appreciation to Hon. Uchenna Okolo and the Enugu State Government for initiating plans to modernize the market.

They described the proposed redevelopment as a timely intervention that would significantly improve trading activities, enhance the business environment, and attract more commercial investments into Awgu.

The traders also commended the chairman for engaging directly with them and listening to their concerns, assuring him of their total support and cooperation towards the successful implementation of the project.

Hon. Okolo also used the opportunity to commend the visionary leadership of the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for what he described as unprecedented infrastructural transformation and effective governance across the state.

He particularly applauded the state government’s bold reforms that abolished illegal revenue collection, warning individuals involved in unauthorized tax collection to desist or face the full weight of the law.

“We have a functional reporting system where members of the public can easily report anyone engaging in illegal revenue collection,” the chairman stated, urging residents to remain vigilant and support the government’s efforts in sanitizing the revenue system.

The inspection tour also took the chairman to the Awgu Game Village, where he assessed the progress of ongoing construction and development projects designed to reposition the facility as a major tourism and recreational destination.

After inspecting the projects, Hon. Okolo expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work, commending the engineers, contractors, and site workers for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to delivering durable infrastructure.

He noted that the ongoing transformation of the Awgu Game Village is in line with the developmental vision of Governor Peter Mbah and the Awgu Local Government administration to diversify the local economy through tourism, recreation, and investment-driven infrastructure.

According to him, the completion of the facility will not only boost tourism but also stimulate economic activities, create employment opportunities, and further position Awgu as one of Enugu State’s emerging destinations for investment and leisure.

Hon. Okolo assured residents that his administration remains focused on delivering more impactful projects across the local government, calling on the people to continue supporting government initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, expanding commercial opportunities, and enhancing the overall quality of life.

He maintained that the inspection tour represents yet another milestone in his administration’s determination to build a more prosperous, modern, and economically vibrant Awgu Local Government Area in line with the development agenda of Governor Peter Mbah.

The visit concluded with renewed optimism among traders, community leaders, and stakeholders, who expressed confidence that the proposed market transformation and the ongoing Game Village projects would usher in a new era of economic growth, infrastructural development, and sustainable progress for the people of Awgu.

Reported by the UGAMATV News Team

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