Our Internal Revenue Grew By Over 450% In 2 Years – Mbah

Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has hinted that the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) grew by over 450 per cent in just two years.

He explained that burdensome new taxes do not drive growth, but rather that growth is driven by plugging leakages, embracing digital systems and improving efficiency.

Mbah spoke at the presentation of the 2025 Best Southeastern Governor Award to him by the Hall of Igbo Achievers Foundation (HIAF)/Igbo Books of Records held in Enugu.

Mbah, who Prof. Benedette Okolie represented, said the development enabled his administration to commit over 80 per cent of its budgets to capital expenditure, turning Enugu into one of the largest construction sites in the country.

Mbah added that they have constructed and rehabilitated hundreds of kilometres of roads — urban, rural, and intercity — opening up communities, boosting commerce, and improving the quality of life for their people.

He further hinted that Modern transport terminals have been built at Holy Ghost, Abakpa, and Garriki, while their CNG mass transit programme and the expansion of Enugu Air are redefining mobility and connectivity across the Southeast beyond.

In education, Mbah averred that they are building Smart Green Schools in all 260 electoral wards of the state — technology-driven institutions that will equip their children with 21st-century skills and prepare them to compete globally.

“In healthcare, we are establishing primary health centres across every ward and constructing a 300-bed ultra-modern specialist hospital to position Enugu as a destination for quality medical care.

Security, which is the bedrock of all development, has received special attention.

“Through technology, community engagement, and decisive action against sit-at-home enforcement, we have reduced violent crime by more than 80%. Enugu is now widely regarded as one of the safest and most peaceful states in Nigeria, with Mondays fully restored for productive activities and investors returning with confidence.

“We have revived water infrastructure, delivering millions of litres daily; we are expanding agriculture and agro-allied industries for food security and job creation; and we are building a New Enugu Smart City that will drive tourism, investment, and sustainable urban development,” He stated.

Mbah further stated that the achievements were not made in isolation, adding that they reflect their commitment to the sectors highlighted by the distinguished Foundation.

“Your recognition today inspires us to do even more.

To my brother Governors in the Southeast, this award reminds us that healthy competition among us will only lift the entire region. Together, we can harness the entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and intellectual capital of Ndi Igbo to build a Southeast that is economically dominant, secure, and a shining example for Nigeria and Africa.

“To the Hall of Igbo Achievers Foundation and the Igbo Book of Records: thank you for this honour. By documenting and celebrating Igbo excellence, you are preserving our heritage and motivating the next generation. This award will serve as a challenge and a covenant — a covenant that we will continue to raise the bar, deepen our reforms, and deliver the future that Ndi Enugu and Ndi Igbo truly deserve,” he stated.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Executive Officer and Editor in Chief of the Igbo Books of Records, Nze Sam Nwanze, had disclosed that the Hall of Igbo Achievers is a brainchild of some senior journalists of Igbo extraction who have reached the zenith of their profession.

He added that they had hitherto held strategic positions in different media organisations in the country.

Nwanze further disclosed that the book is a compendium of Igbo heritage, events, culture and achievers.