The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright, has commended Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State for developing infrastructure in the state barely two years of his administration.

Arkwright made the commendation during a state banquet organised in his honour by the state government in Abakaliki on Sunday night.

The High Commissioner who was on a working visit to the state, said he travelled on smooth roads into and within the state, describing the roads in Ebonyi as the best in the South-East.

“Ebonyi roads are the best in the South-East,” the envoy added in a statement on Monday by Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya. ArkWright told the guests at the banquet that he was on the visit to look into the opportunities in agriculture, rice production and infrastructure in the state.

Describing Ebonyi as a young state, he pointed out that he was optimistic about its future. He promised that the United Kingdom would partner in realising the dream.

His words: “We are here to look into the opportunity in agriculture, rice production and infrastructure.

“As a young state, Ebonyi is quite optimistic to the future and the United Kingdom will be a partner to realising the future.

“The United Kingdom is aware of the challenges of development in Africa and Nigeria in particular.”

Earlier, in his remarks, Governor Umahi had called on the British Government to help Africa, especially Nigeria.

“The British Government should move on to help Africa. Nigeria is the largest country in Africa. When you brought to us religion, we accepted it but you didn’t bring your technology. I think there is the need to develop your technology in Nigeria.

“I want to take that opportunity as you said and we want to partner you in the area of agriculture. We have a lot of mineral deposits like zinc, salt, lead and others. In fact, we are sitting on money.

“We also need your help because we have a lot of internally displaced persons from Ezza-Ezillo and Ezza communal clashes. There is the boundary clashes between Cross River and Ebonyi in which a lot of people have been displaced. There are also those from Izzi,Abakaliki and Ikwo axis that were displaced.”

•Photo shows Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State (5th right), his wife, Rachael (6th right); Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe( 4th right); Speaker of the House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru (2nd right); National Vice-Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (South-East) Austin Umahi (right), British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul ArkWright (6th left); Secretary to the state Government, Benard Odoh(4th left); State Chairman of the PDP, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (5th left) Chief Judge, Aloy Nwankwo (6th left) and top British High Commission officials during a state banquet for the visiting envoy and his team at the Government House, Abakaliki on Sunday.

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