“EBONYI RISING: A NEW YEAR OF HOPE AND RESPONSIBILITY” – 2026 NEW YEAR ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, RT. HON. BLDR. FRANCIS OGBONNA NWIFURU, GOVERNOR OF EBONYI STATE.

My dear distinguished people of Ebonyi State,

I greet you warmly and sincerely as we step into the New Year 2026.

2. I extend my heartfelt gratirtude and greetings to Ndi Ebonyi at home and abroad, whose love for our dear State remains strong. I greet our royal fathers and elders, the custodians of our dear traditions and values. I salute our religious leaders, whose prayers and moral guidance continue to steady our land. I warmly greet our youths, the strength of today and the promise of tomorrow; our women, the backbone of our families and communities; our workers and civil servants, who keep the wheels of government turning; and our security agencies, who stand daily in defence of our land.

3. Above all, Ndi Ebonyi, umu nne na umu nnam, I give thanks to Almighty God, who in His mercy has preserved our lives, kept our communities in peace, and sustained Ebonyi State through the year 2025 that has passed. In a time when many places have known fear and uncertainty, we remain grateful that Ebonyi has stood firm and united.

4. The year we have just come through was not easy for many families. So Ndi Ebonyi I want you to know that your government is aware of these challenges. We have listened to your concerns. We have seen the sacrifices you made to keep your families going and your communities stable. Your patience, resilience, and peaceful conduct during this period deserve recognition and respect. Our farmers returned to their fields. Our traders opened their shops each morning. Our workers continued to report to duty. Our youths did not lose hope. Our communities remained calm and united. This strength of character is one of the greatest assets of Ndi Ebonyi.

5. From the very first day I took the oath of office, I made a clear commitment to you. That commitment is captured in what we call the People’s Charter of Needs Agenda. This agenda is the soul of our governance and the guide for every major decision we took as a government in the year 2025. When we sit to plan, to spend public funds, or to choose priorities, we ask ourselves simple questions: Does this improve the liives of Ndi Ebonyi? Does it address real needs of Ndi Ebonyi? Does it protect the future of our children? If the answer is no, then we do not proceed. This is the framework that shapes our policies in education, health, infrastructure, security, and economic empowerment.

6. As we look ahead, it is important that we also remember where we are coming from. Ebonyi State did not emerge by accident. It was born through the vision, courage, and sacrifice of men and women who believed that our people deserved a place to shape their own future. I pay deep tribute to the founding fathers of our dear State, Ebonyi whose determination gave us a homeland we are proud to call our own.

7. I also acknowledge with respect the efforts of our past governors and leaders, each of whom contributed to the growth of our State. They laid foundations in governance, education, infrastructure, and public service that we continue to build upon today. Our progress is the result of continuity, not disruption, and we honour those who carried the responsibility of leadership before us.

8. I wish to express my appreciation to our dear President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his support to Ebonyi State and for policies that strengthen cooperation between the Federal Government and the Sub-nationals. This partnership remains important to our development and national unity.

9. It is on the strength of this shared history, and with the support of these institutions and individuals, that we went to work.

10. We demerged the education sector to improve focus and efficiency. We expanded scholarship opportunities locally and internationally. We began the model schools programme and restored stability in our tertiary institutions.

11. Beyond certificates, we invested in skills, through vocational training, grants, and the establishment of the ICT University and the University of Aviation and Aeronautical Engineering.

12. While we invest in the future through education, we must also protect life itself. A child cannot learn, and a worker cannot contribute, if health is neglected.

13. We revitalised primary healthcare delivery centres across all the wards in all the local governments areas, improved the doctors’ welfare, upgraded hospitals, recruited health workers, and expanded health insurance scheme with free maternal and child care.

14. Beyond classrooms and hospitals, development must be visible in the physical environment where people live and work.

15. We constructed and rehabilitated roads in all local government areas, renewed Abakaliki metropolis, improved rural connectivity, and delivered bridges and flagship infrastructure projects.

16. Infrastructure creates access, but access must lead to opportunity. That is why we placed strong emphasis on economic empowerment and agriculture.

17. Through the Hawkers’ Fund Initiative, youth empowerment programmes, integrated farming models, and the revival of the hatchery and feed mill projects, we helped our people move from survival to productivity.

18. However, no economy can grow, and no investment can survive, without peace and security.

19. Working with security agencies and community structures, we have kept Ebonyi among the safest states in the South-Eastern Nigeria.

20. To sustain these gains and move further in the year ahead, careful planning is required. This is the purpose of the ₦884.8 billion 2026 Budget.

21. A significant portion of the budget is dedicated to capital projects. This means we are investing more in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, and other infrastructure that will serve our people for many years. These investments are aimed at opening up communities, supporting businesses, and improving access to essential services.

22. We also made adequate provision for education and healthcare, because these sectors shape the future of our children and determine the quality of life of our people. Funds have been set aside to improve learning facilities, support teachers and health workers, and ensure that public institutions function efficiently.

23. The budget places strong emphasis on agriculture and economic empowerment. Resources have been allocated to support farmers, improve food production, and expand programmes that create jobs and income, especially for youths and women.

24. In addition, we made deliberate provision for security and social welfare, recognising that development can only thrive in a peaceful environment and that government must protect the most vulnerable members of the society.

25. I want to assure you that this budget will be implemented with prudence, transparency, and discipline. Every naira spent must deliver value. We will continue to work closely with the Ebonyi State House of Assembly to ensure proper oversight and accountability.

26. Above all, the 2026 Budget reflects our belief that development must be balanced and inclusive. No local government area will be left behind. Our goal is to ensure that progress is felt in our towns, villages, and cities alike.

27. Beyond sustaining what we have started, the year 2026 will also mark the beginning of new strategic steps that will redefine our economic direction.

28. I am pleased to announce that Ebonyi State has procured three aircraft under Ebonyi Air, which will arrive in January 2026.

29. This is not about prestige, but a calculated initiative aimed at opening Ebonyi State to greater economic activity. Reliable air transport makes it easier for investors to do business, for professionals to move in and out of the State, and for our people to connect with other parts of the country and beyond.

30. Ebonyi Air will support business growth, encourage tourism, and reduce the time and cost of travel. It will also strengthen Ebonyi’s position as a State that is ready to engage with the wider economy and attract new opportunities. By improving connectivity, we are creating conditions that support trade, investment, and job creation, while making our State more accessible and competitive.

31. In addition, we will commence the establishment of a modern cement factory. This project will take advantage of our abundant limestone deposits, which are among the natural resources with great economic potential. For many years, raw materials from different parts of Nigeria have been transported elsewhere for processing. Our goal is to add value here at home. By processing our limestone within Ebonyi State, we keep jobs, skills, and income within our communities.

32. The cement factory will support industrial development, create direct and indirect employment for our people, and contribute significantly to the Internally Generated Revenue of the State. It will also support construction activities and reduce the cost of building materials in the long run. I must let you know that this project is part of a broader plan to move Ebonyi State from consumption to production economy – one that uses our natural resources wisely and turns them into lasting benefits for our people.

33. Economic progress must go hand in hand with democratic responsibility. Development is strongest when leadership is chosen by the people it serves.

34. In the year 2026, Ebonyi State will conduct Local Government elections that are free and fair. Let me state this without ambiguity: there will be no imposition of candidates. Local government leaders must emerge through your votes, not through appointment or influence. The era where leadership at the grassroots is decided without the people must give way to a system where the people choose those who govern them.

35. To ensure a level playing field, any appointed official who wishes to contest must first resign from office. This rule is important. It protects fairness, prevents abuse of power, and assures every contestant that the contest will be based on ideas, service, and character – not access to government machinery.

36. We will also ensure that the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission is empowered to conduct elections that are credible and peaceful. Security agencies will perform their duties professionally, with neutrality and respect for the rights of all citizens.

37. I urge political parties, aspirants, and supporters to conduct themselves with restraint and maturity. Elections must not divide our communities or threaten the peace we have worked hard to sustain. Differences of opinion are normal in a democracy, but violence and intimidation have no place in our dear State.

38. To our youths and women, I especially encourage your participation. Local government is the closest tier of government to the people, and your voices, ideas, and energy are needed in shaping the future of your communities. As we strengthen our democratic institutions, we must also strengthen our sense of justice – justice that is firm, but humane.

39. In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I hereby grant pardon to the following persons:
HRH Eze Nwiboko Obodo Onyike (posthumous),
Edigbo Agu (posthumous),
Akponwe Ogalegu (posthumous),
Ugadu Ofim (posthumous),
Nwangbo Idoko (posthumous),
Ifeanyi Nwamini,
Hyacinth Nwigwe,
Eze Ekene.

40. For the individuals who are no longer alive, this pardon is posthumous. It is granted to clear their names, restore dignity to their memory, and bring peace to their families and communities.

41. For those who are living, this pardon is extended with the expectation of renewed responsibility. Mercy does not excuse wrongdoing, but it opens the door to reform, reintegration, and a better path forward.

42. This decision was taken after careful consideration, guided by law, conscience, and the broader interest of peace and reconciliation in our State. Let it be clearly understood that mercy does not weaken justice, rather, it completes it. Where the law has taken its course, mercy allows society to heal and move forward without bitterness. I urge the beneficiaries of this pardon, and indeed all our citizens, to see this moment as a reminder that Ebonyi State believes in correction, not destruction; in reconciliation, not endless division.

43. Ndi Ebonyi, as we begin a new year, let us learn to forgive, to heal old wounds, and to build a future where justice is firm, but humanity is never forgotten. No government, no matter how committed, can build a State alone. Progress is strongest when government and citizens walk in the same direction, each playing their part with sincerity and discipline.

44. I therefore call on all Ebonyians – young and old, men and women, and those at home and in disapora – to remain united. Our differences in opinions, communities, or political beliefs must never weaken our shared identity as one people with a common future.

45. Unity does not mean that we always agree. It means that even when we disagree, we choose peace, respect, and dialogue over conflict. As citizens, we all have duties that support development. I urge you to obey the law, protect public property, pay lawful taxes and levies, and support community efforts that promote cleanliness, order, and safety. These simple acts, when practiced daily, make a real difference.

46. To our youths, I ask you to channel your energy into productive activities. Reject violence, crime, and drug abuse. The future of Ebonyi rests heavily on your choices today. Government will continue to create opportunities, but you must also prepare yourselves with skills, discipline, and a strong sense of responsibility.

47. To our workers in the public and private sectors, your dedication keeps the State running. I encourage you to remain professional, honest, and committed to service. The trust of the people depends on how duties are carried out, especially in positions of responsibility.

48. To our traditional rulers, community leaders, and religious institutions and its leaders, I thank you for your stabilising role. I urge you to continue promoting peace, tolerance, and moral values in our communities. Your influence remains vital in shaping behaviour and resolving disputes at the grassroots.

49. To our security agencies and neighbourhood watch operatives, I commend your sacrifices. I urge you to continue working with professionalism and respect for human rights. Security is a shared responsibility, and timely information from citizens helps to prevent crime before it happens.

50. As your Governor, I renew my commitment to govern with fairness, humility, and respect for the law. I will continue to listen, to correct where necessary, and to place the interest of Ebonyi State above all personal or political considerations. The Ebonyi we are building is not for one group or one generation. It is for all of us, and for those yet to come.

51. May the year 2026 bring peace to our homes, strength to our institutions, dignity to our labour, and hope to every family across Ebonyi State.

52. May God bless you.
And may the year 2026 and the years ahead be of steady progress for us all.
May God bless Ebonyi State
May God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria

Happy New Year, Umunne m na Umunna m, Ndi Ebonyi.

His Excellency,
Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru
Governor, Ebonyi State.
January 1, 2026.