The Energy Commission of Nigeria has raised alarm over an incident involving the police arrest of workers at the construction site of the “Renewed Hope” Bio-Methanol Pilot Plant in Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The multi-billion Naira project is set to be the first bio-methanol plant in West Africa.
Speaking to journalists in Enugu on Sunday, an official of the Commission, Mr. E. Okeke, reported that seven construction workers were arrested by the police on Friday and have yet to be released.
He further alleged that the Enugu State Government, under Governor Peter Mbah, was behind the arrests, which have caused a halt in construction work at the site.
The Bio-Methanol Pilot Plant, valued at over N40 billion, is a federal government initiative brought to the South East by President Bola Tinubu.
The plant is located in Nkanuland, the home region of both Governor Mbah and Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
The Commission claims that the police arrived at the site in the company of local council chairmen from Nkanu East and Nkanu West and arrested the workers, who were identified as Ambrose Edeh, Chibuike Edeh, Monday Nwodo, Obinna Samuel, Ebuka Chukwurah, Chibuike Okereke, and Maduabuchi Okoro.
Okeke also revealed that the police officers had removed batteries from the construction machines at the site in an attempt to halt the project’s progress.
After being detained at various police stations, including the RRS Government House and Anti-Kidnapping Section, the workers were later moved to the State CID.
Federal government authorities attempted to intervene by reaching out to Enugu police officials, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
It was only after contacting the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, that the workers were released.
Community leaders in Nkanu expressed their displeasure, alleging that the state government’s actions were politically motivated, aimed at frustrating federal investment in the area.
The land for the project was donated to the federal government by the community with proper documentation, as confirmed by local leaders.
The Bio-Methanol Plant, once operational, is expected to meet significant industrial needs in Nigeria and across Africa, creating thousands of jobs and boosting the economy of the South East.
The project, which is part of President Tinubu’s economic development agenda, is seen as one of the largest investments in the southeast region.
Chief John Ogbodo, an elder from the host community, alleged that the Enugu State Government’s actions were linked to the political affiliations of Uche Nnaji, who attracted the project to the area and also ran as the APC gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 elections.
Additionally, the region also benefits from another significant investment—the N60 billion Solar PV project—also brought in by Nnaji.
Some community elders speculated that the state government was attempting to undermine the projects to prevent their positive political and economic impact ahead of the 2027 elections.
Efforts to get comments from the Enugu State Police Command or the Nkanu West LGA Chairman, John Ogbodo, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered.
Likewise, attempts to reach the senior special assistant to the governor on media, Mr. Dan Nwaome, for comment were also unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
