From Chidi Nnadi and Petrus Obi, Enugu

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, yesterday, assured the people that he will take them to the state of their dreams despite economic chal­lenges facing the nation.

Ugwuanyi, who spoke at the state’s Democracy Day celebration held at Okpara Square, said the journey to develop Enugu had just begun.

The governor announced plans by his administra­tion to construct three new specialist hospitals in the three senatorial districts of the state.

He said the plan was in line with his administra­tion’s aspiration to turn the state into a choice des­tination for medical treatment and medical tourism in the country.

Ugwuanyi said his government has continued to sustain the free maternal health and childcare pro­gramme while also ensuring proper equipment and staffing of existing health institutions in the state.

“We also procured 20 tractors to be hired to genu­ine farmers at very low rates and released counter­part funds for the robust participation of our state in the implementation of the N2 billion Staple Crops Processing Zone (SCPZ) programme by the African Development Bank in conjunction with the Federal Government of Nigeria. The fund is also being chan­nelled to the revival and expansion of the Adani Irri­gation Scheme as well as the construction of feeder roads and other critical infrastructure that will cata­lyze agricultural development in the state,” he said.