Enugu State governor Dr Peter Mbah has said that his administration lays the foundation for the state’s prosperity and future.
Mbah stated this while addressing a large crowd at Okpara Square, Enugu, on Thursday to felicitate him on his second anniversary in office.
“In just two years, we have begun to rewire the foundation of Enugu State for future promise. We have constructed over 800 kilometres of roads, opening access to farms, markets, industry, schools, and hospitals.
“To date, we have delivered five ultra-modern terminals across the state: Holy Ghost Terminal 1 for interstate travel with a skybridge to Terminal 2; Holy Ghost Terminal 2 for intra-city transport; Gariki Terminal; Abakpa Terminal; and Nsukka Terminal – all ready to be commissioned.
“We have allocated 33 per cent of our budget to education alone, surpassing global benchmarks, because we believe our future is forged in classrooms. Soon, we will begin the rollout of 260 Smart Green Schools, equipped with digital whiteboards, science labs, and solar-powered experiential learning spaces.
“Alongside this, we are building 260 fully equipped Primary Healthcare Centres across every ward, each designed with staff quarters, solar panels, and clean water. No mother in Enugu should ever again fear childbirth due to distance or neglect,” he said.
The governor noted that security remained the foundation of all progress. He said his government had “launched a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre, deploying 150 AI-enabled security patrol vehicles, and witnessed the decline in violent crime, making it possible again for citizens to travel, trade, and sleep in peace.”
On the economic side, he said, “We’ve increased our internally generated revenue (IGR) by over 600 per cent, revived moribund assets, launched investment drives, and improved our ease of doing business while laying the groundwork for agro-industrial systems that will feed, employ, and empower our people.
“We have equally created 300,000 hectares of Landbank to be leased to large-scale commercial farmers, while establishing 200 hectares of Farm Estate in all the 260 wards in the state to scale up agricultural production across the value chain, both for export and the local market.
“We didn’t stop there. We completed the Enugu International Conference Centre, giving our state a place on the global stage. We launched Enugu Air, a bold venture transforming Enugu into a globally connected economic powerhouse.
“We have conceived a radical overhaul of our transport system, procuring 200 CNG buses and 2,000 city taxis. Our ticketing technology will significantly reduce transport costs for families,” he added.
He also highlighted the state’s investments in tourism, among others, noting however, that all those were “just the beginning of the story,” given his plans for the state.
A former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, said Mbah had done well in building and transforming the state.
“I can tell you today that no other state has done what Enugu has done. For me, you are going to continue to be our governor. Everyone knows you are doing well,” he stated.
Also speaking, business mogul, Engr. Arthur Eze described Mbah as God’s gift to Igbo land and Nigeria, saying no one could stop his re-election.
“God is a wonderful God. He brought your son, Peter Mbah, to change Igbo land. When I came into the city, from the Airport to the city, I noticed he had changed the whole of Enugu,” Eze said.
Speaking on behalf of returnees to the Peoples Democratic Party, former governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, and LP chieftains, vowed to work for the success of the Mbah administration.
“On behalf of the members of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, who have joined us back in PDP, we commit ourselves again to PDP and the party‘s ideals. We stand and will fight for the PDP and our governor to the end,” he said.
