The controversy surrounding the construction of the Biomass-Based Methanol Plant in Enugu State has escalated into a public dispute between the state government and the federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology. At the heart of the conflict lies a land dispute, accusations of improper procedure, and allegations of a covert land grab attempt by the Minister, Uche Nnaji. The project, intended to be a multi-billion-naira bio-methanol pilot plant, has been halted by the Enugu State government, leading to the arrest of construction workers and a strong reaction from the Energy Commission of Nigeria, the agency overseeing the project.
Hon. Okechukwu Mbah, representing Nkanu East constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, has shed light on the state government’s perspective on the project’s suspension. He alleges that Minister Nnaji surreptitiously attempted to acquire land in the area under the guise of the federal project. Mbah claims that Nnaji had previously purchased a separate parcel of land for personal use, then strategically positioned the federal government’s methanol plant project on disputed land between the Amagunze community in Nkanu East LGA and the Akpugo community in Nkanu West LGA. This maneuver, according to Mbah, was a veiled attempt by the minister to seize control of the contested land.
The state government’s intervention came in response to complaints from the Amanguze community, who felt their land rights were being infringed upon. Mbah asserts that the minister failed to consult with the state government, the local government councils, or the affected communities before initiating the project. This lack of communication and transparency, coupled with the existing land dispute, fueled suspicions of ulterior motives on the part of the minister. The state government, acting on the community’s grievances, subsequently ordered the project’s halt and the arrest of workers at the construction site.
The Energy Commission of Nigeria, operating under the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, has expressed outrage over the arrest of its workers and the suspension of the project. The commission claims that seven of its employees were detained and that construction activities have been completely disrupted. They point fingers at the Enugu State Government for orchestrating the arrests and halting the project without proper justification. This clash between the federal agency and the state government highlights the deeper issues of land ownership, procedural irregularities, and the alleged personal interests of the minister involved.
Mbah, in his address to the press, further criticized Minister Nnaji for not only failing to follow due process but also for misrepresenting the project’s location. He questions why the project was attributed to Nkanu West LGA when it is actually situated in Nkanu East LGA. This discrepancy, according to Mbah, further reinforces the suspicion of a deliberate attempt to obscure the true nature of the project and its potential impact on the Amanguze community. He also raises concerns about the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment, a crucial step for any project of this magnitude, especially one involving potential waste products.
In the wake of the escalating conflict, Mbah has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and investigate the matter thoroughly. He urges the president to hold Minister Nnaji accountable for his actions and ensure that due process is followed in all future dealings regarding the project. Mbah emphasized that the community welcomes federal government projects but insists on transparency, proper consultation, and respect for existing land rights. He also called on the Enugu State Boundary Committee to delineate the boundaries between the Amagunze and Akpugo communities to prevent further land disputes and conflicts in the area. The situation underscores the complexities of land ownership and development in Nigeria, where competing interests and allegations of corruption can often impede progress and create tension between different levels of government. The future of the bio-methanol plant now hangs in the balance as the investigation unfolds and the various stakeholders attempt to resolve the underlying issues.
