Mbah: Were Working Towards Rebuilding Enugu into Modern, Competitive, Crime-free State 

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has said the goal of his administration is to rebuild Enugu into a modern, competitive, and crime-free state that would yield utmost benefits for citizens and residents.  

He said the set target would be achieved through sustainable security, productivity, transparency, good governance, and strong partnership with the Church.

Mbah stated this in a keynote address entitled Promoting a Productive Economy in Enugu State, which he delivered at the ongoing fourth Diocesan Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu taking place at the Holy Ghost Cathedral.

Two years down the line, the direction is clear. We pledged to build a productive economy, and we have stayed faithful to that covenant, he said.

He declared that he came to the Synod not as a political leader but as a son of the Catholic Church, shaped by its discipline, compassion, and deep moral foundations.

The Enugu governor spoke in the presence of an audience that included the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Owerri, Archbishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna, among others.

He reiterated that what leadership meant to him is stewardship, adding that government and Church share a common mission anchored in building a just, humane, and thriving society for the progress of humanity.

Mbah described the Synod as a sacred moment for introspection, particularly as his administration was approaching its third anniversary. He therefore noted that the central question was if his government has honoured the trust of the people of Enugu through the Citizens Charter of accountability, measurable progress, and transparency.

The Enugu chief executive stated that his administration had already resolved to grow Enugus GDP from $4.4bn to $30bn, place the state among Nigerias top three economies, and drastically reduce poverty. He insisted that the well intentioned plan was never a political rhetoric but a necessity for sustainable development.

He enthused that recent economic statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) already placed Enugu among Nigerias top-tier performing states, an indication that the benefits of the reforms are visible across sectors.

Mbah reeled out his key achievements so far, saying that Enugus internally generated revenue has grown by over 450 percent within two years, pointing out that the growth did not come from new taxation but from plugging leakages.

He also stated that the revival of long-abandoned state-owned enterprises, including Sunrise Flour Mills, United Palm Products, Nigergas Company, Hotel Presidential, and other assets, contributed to the rise in IGR.

On security, which he described as the foundation of a productive economy, the governor said his administration has delivered one of the most dramatic security turnarounds in the region. 

He said: By confronting the illegal sit-at-home order and deploying advanced surveillance technology through the Command and Control Centre, violent crime has reduced by more than 80 percent. 

Today, Mondays are fully active; investors are returning; and our streets are safer.

Mbah further captivated his audience with the massive infrastructural turnaround that his administration has achieved in Enugu, including, including the construction of over 1,300 kilometres of roads.

Others included the introduction of 200 CNG buses with digital ticketing into the transport sysem, establishment of five modern transport terminals, the Enugu Air project, which took flight by mid-2025, and an ambitious housing programme expected to deliver 15,000 units next year.

According to him, none of the gains made by his administration was achieved in isolation as they are threads of a deliberate tapestry – security, education, roads, healthcare, agriculture – woven around one priority: the people of Enugu.

Mbah acknowledged the contribution of the Catholic Church to the development of the state, lauding the Church for being an indispensable partner in education, health, morality, and youth development. 

He called for stronger partnership, noting that a productive economy requires ethical leaders and honest citizens whose values the Church continually nurtures.

We are rebuilding Enugu together. And with Gods grace, we will leave behind a legacy of peace, productivity, and shared prosperity, Governor Mbah said.