The Joint National Assembly (NASS) Committee on Works, which comprises the Senate and House of Representatives, has commended the transformations witnessed in Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah’s leadership, saying the governor’s approval rating was high both nationally and locally.
This was even as Governor Mbah made a case for more accommodation of Enugu State in the 2026 budget and greater speed in the ongoing federal road projects connecting the state.
The team lead, and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works was Honourable Akin Alabi, who conveyed the commendations during a working visit to Governor Mbah at Government House, Enugu, on the sidelines of its oversight tour of federal government road projects in Enugu State at the weekend.
He said: “While checking out these projects, these contractors kept saying, without asking or prompting them, the Governor has been very helpful.
“Security-wise, they feel very safe and at home, and they said you have approved their right of passage. We know that if a governor wants to frustrate a federal government project in his state, he will frustrate it.
“But as a governor that cares for his people, you are not frustrating these projects; you are making them go on smoothly, and everywhere this Committee goes, we will continue to sing praise. We will sing your praise to the floor of the House of Representatives, the floor of the Senate; everywhere we get the opportunity.”
“We also did a tiny sampling at the hotel where we stayed and other places. I am happy to tell you that your approval rating is high. It is not just success, it is more. I hope you continue to have the interest of the people of Enugu State at heart.
“Enugu State is going higher and looking better and better. For the two years you have been the governor, Enugu has moved ahead and forward. I hope you continue to work progressively on the progressive side of things.”
He vowed the Committee’s commitment to ensuring that federal road contractors delivered value for money.
Speaking, while calling for speed, Mbah also pressed for special attention to Enugu State, given its place in Nigeria’s colonial and post-colonial history.
He said his administration was committed to road development and making life easier for federal contractors through necessary intervention, given the place of roads in growing the state from a $4.4bn to $30bn economy in the next six years.
“For us, we understand the value of roads. We cannot talk about growing our economy exponentially without providing road infrastructure because the roads connect the market, the people, and industry, and give the people the means to live in comfort and dignity.
“We take road infrastructure seriously here and cannot do that in isolation. This committee is essential because we must cooperate with the federal government.
“On our part, we are doing our roads without exception. We think it is a modest thing for people to drive on a paved road. Our target is to ensure that all our streets are paved.
“Without sounding ungrateful, we want to commend the federal government because they are doing some roads in our state, but we just want to ask that you get the contractors to increase their pace of work.
“There are also other interventions they have done. The only problem again is getting to the Makurdi to Enugu Expressway. The one they are doing is slow, and we hope they can fast-track that Onitsha-Enugu Express Road, too. There are a couple of interventions, but I think it’s just the pace, and we will be relying on you to do the right thing.
“We are always willing and ready to help where there has been obstruction in the rights of way and compensation, and talk to whoever is affected so that the contractors will not have any excuse for work to slow down,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, and the Member representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Hon Dennis Agbo, were also present.
