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Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has vowed to prioritise security as a cornerstone of his administration’s efforts to transform the state’s economy and reduce poverty.
Mbah made this pledge on Thursday during the 2024 Standing Committee Meeting of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, held in Enugu.
Addressing the gathering, Mbah reiterated the critical role security plays in his vision for Enugu State.
“Our goal to position Enugu among Nigeria’s top three economies and achieve zero poverty requires a secure environment. Security is a fundamental building block,” Mbah stated.
The governor highlighted his administration’s success in quashing the illegal “sit-at-home” order previously imposed by criminals, as part of his zero-tolerance approach to security threats.
“There is no room for political correctness when dealing with security threats. We demonstrated this when we successfully ended the illegal ‘sit-at-home’ order that a fringe group tried to impose in Enugu,” he said.
He further explained that his administration’s security strategy goes beyond deploying security personnel and vehicles, emphasising the use of cutting-edge technology.
“We are on the verge of launching a real-time surveillance platform, combining human and artificial intelligence to monitor key areas in the capital round-the-clock,” he added.
Shifting the focus to education, Mbah revealed that the state’s 2024 budget reflects his administration’s commitment to nurturing future leaders.
“We allocated 33 per cent of the state’s N158 billion budget to education, making it the highest allocation in Nigeria, both in percentage and per capita terms. This ensures that for every 100 Naira spent, 33 Naira is dedicated to education,” the governor noted.
He outlined plans to establish 260 Smart Green Schools aimed at preparing the youth for the future, alongside several other “disruptive innovations” his government is implementing across healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Mbah also detailed the administration’s success in attracting investments, revealing that over N300 billion has been secured in recent months.
Among the key projects is a N100 billion partnership with Pragmatic Palms Ltd to revitalise Enugu United Palm Products Ltd, and a deal with ODK Tractors to locally assemble 300 tractors by the end of 2024, with a target of 1,000 by 2025.
“In addition, we’ve secured a N40 billion investment for the revival of Sunrise Flour Mills, which has been dormant since 1985,” Mbah said.
To further enhance Enugu’s investment appeal, Mbah disclosed plans for the construction of 141 urban roads and 20 rural roads, in addition to the 71 roads already completed and 10 rural roads awarded in 2023. A total of N183 billion has been approved for the project, aimed at improving the state’s infrastructure and ease of doing business.
Mbah called on the church and the citizens of Enugu to continue supporting his administration’s efforts to reinvent the state.
“The path may be challenging at times, but the rewards far outweigh any temporary discomfort,” he concluded.
