These and more are the immediate adjectives and pictures that confront any visitor to the once iconic Sunrise Flour Mills, one of the legacies of Senator Jim Nwobodo as the governor of old Anambra State. Commissioned in 1983, the mill was intended to contribute to the industrialization and economic growth of the old Anambra State.
However, the Nwobodo Administration’s departure in 1985, due to the military regime led by General Muhammadu Buhari, marked the decline of the mill, leading to its closure shortly after. Attempts to revitalize Sunrise by the Sullivan Chime Administration in 2013 through a 30-year leasing agreement with DAO-VTV International Trading Services and Investment Limited, a Vietnamese firm, were unsuccessful. Consequently, Sunrise has remained moribund for the past 39 years.
Other legacies of Nwobodo, such as Ikenga Hotels in Enugu and Nsukka, the Aluminum Ports Factory in Igbo-Etiti LGA, Nike Lake Resort, Anambra Television, and Anambra Vegetable Oil Products at Nachi, have also suffered a similar fate, with many either in ruins or barely operational.
The former Eastern Region was once known for having the fastest-growing and industrializing economy globally between 1954 and 1964, largely due to Dr. Michael Okpara’s principle of “Pragmatic Socialism.” Notable establishments from that era include NIGERGAS Company, Niger Steel Company, Asbestos Cement Factory in Emene, Enugu, Golden Guinea Breweries in Umuahia, and Michelin Factory in Port Harcourt, among others. Sadly, almost all these enterprises, including those inherited by Enugu State, have fallen into disrepair or been sold off, a situation attributed to military rule, dysfunctional federalism, and poor leadership.
In light of this history, during the 2023 governorship campaign, candidate Peter Mbah presented an economic vision to grow Enugu State’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by shifting from a public service-centric approach to a private sector-driven economy. A key aspect of this vision involves converting the state’s numerous moribund assets into productive entities.
Recently, the Enugu State Government signed a N40 billion deal with Jelfah Nigeria Limited, a private investor, to revive Sunrise Flour Mills. Under the agreement, Jelfah will acquire a 60 percent equity stake in the company and invest N24 billion into the mill, while the state government retains a 40 percent stake based on the existing assets of the company.
Governor Peter Mbah elaborated on the transaction, stating, “This investment will see Jelfah Group investing N24 billion into the existing Enugu Sunrise Flour Mills. N22 billion will be directed toward the revamping and resuscitation of the Sunrise Flour Mill, while N2 billion will come to the state in cash.”
This partnership marks a hopeful step toward revitalizing the iconic mill and restoring Enugu State’s industrial legacy, fostering economic growth and job creation in the process.