By Amaka Okafor
Governor Francis Nwifuru has declared Ebonyi State the safest place in Nigeria, citing the absence of kidnapping incidents since he assumed office and the state’s sustained investment in security.
The governor made the assertion on Saturday in Abakaliki while receiving editors and journalists participating in the second phase of the Presidential Media Tour of Projects across the South-East geopolitical zone.
The five-day tour, organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team, commenced in Ebonyi State and is expected to cover Enugu, Anambra, Abia and Imo states, showcasing projects executed under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Addressing the media delegation, Nwifuru assured the visitors of their safety throughout their stay, insisting that Ebonyi remains one of the most peaceful states in the federation. “This is the safest place in this country. Since I became governor, we have never recorded any kidnapping case. You can make your enquiries and find out. Even at midnight, you can move anywhere,” he said.
The governor attributed the peaceful atmosphere to strategic investments in security and close collaboration between government, community leaders and security agencies. He noted that maintaining peace had created an enabling environment for development across the state.
Nwifuru urged the journalists to assess his administration based on what they would see during the tour, expressing confidence that the scale of projects spread across the state would exceed expectations. “Judge us fairly. What you are going to see may not be what you expected. You may even be shocked by the level of development,” he stated.
According to him, every community and local government area in Ebonyi has benefited from multiple projects, particularly in road infrastructure. He said many roads under construction range between 10 and 22 kilometres, while others stretch much farther, reflecting the administration’s commitment to balanced development.
Describing Ebonyi as “the salt of the nation,” the governor maintained that prudent resource management and ambitious infrastructure investments had positioned the state as a model of development in the country.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the media tour was designed to give journalists first-hand knowledge of projects being executed by federal and state governments.
He commended the level of development in Ebonyi, saying, “I have seen what you have done. I am telling people to come and see something they may not have seen in another part of Nigeria,” while expressing confidence that the tour would promote factual reporting on government achievements.
