In London, Peter Mbah Ignites Investors’ Interest in Enugu

• NGX, UBA affirm Enugu’s positioning as emerging investors’ haven 

•Governor: Tinubu’s economic reforms most significant in decades

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has ignited foreign investors’ interest in the state with prospective investors expressing readiness to key into opportunities across various sectors of the state’s economy.

Mbah said investors should expect between 25 and 40 per cent return on their investments, stating that global manufacturers and international partners are already establishing a presence in the state, recognising its strategic position as well as the opportunities and reform agenda underway.

The governor, who was on President Bola Tinubu’s entourage during the president’s visit to the United Kingdom, spoke at the UK-Nigeria Project Agglomeration Compact 2026, delivered by Mutandis Africa, a pan-African investment and trade facilitation platform, in collaboration with the Dr. Zacch Adedeji-led Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), in the House of Lords.

The investment forum, on the side-lines of Tinubu’s visit, brought Enugu State, senior federal government officials, and private sector leaders to engage directly with UK’s senior investor community, including private equity funds, sovereign wealth investors, development finance institutions, infrastructure platforms, pension capital, and family offices.

Mbah said, “We have numerous projects that have been curated for international investors: the international airport currently being expanded in Enugu is designed to serve a regional population of approximately 30 million people, thus, transforming Enugu into a gateway for the entire southeast economic corridor, linking surrounding states whose economies are themselves growing rapidly.

“In tourism and hospitality, Enugu’s natural landscape, a hill-top city surrounded by waterfalls, caves and remarkable scenery, is being repositioned as a destination for both leisure and business travel. New hotels, a conference centre and revitalised resorts are being developed to support this vision.

“In agriculture, we are modernising production through agritech and commercial farming initiatives that strengthen food security while building export-oriented value chains.

“Power drives every modern economy. Today, more than 50 per cent of the region still lacks reliable electricity, creating an opportunity to deliver dependable power to over 15 million people.”

The governor added, “In healthcare and education, we are expanding services across communities to build the skilled workforce and stable environment that serious investment requires.

“And at the heart of this transformation lies one of our most ambitious developments: a new smart city spanning approximately 10,000 hectares, currently breaking ground, designed to become a modern commercial and residential hub for the region.”

Mbah hailed Tinubu’s reforms, especially the structural shift, where he said states were being increasingly empowered to act as economic engines in their own right.

He stated, “Importantly also, under President Tinubu’s leadership, bold reforms have been implemented to restore macroeconomic stability and improve investor confidence.

“The foreign exchange market has been unified, fiscal reforms are strengthening transparency, and the Nigeria Tax Act is helping to create a modern fiscal architecture designed to support long-term investment.”

He said Tinubu’s UK visit signalled a paradigm shift that enabled subnational governments to also drive economic growth.

The governor stated, “For Nigeria, it signals a new era in which sub-national governments are not simply administrators, but active stewards of economic growth.

“For investors, it marks an opportunity to engage not only with a country, but with dynamic regions within that country that are building credible, bankable opportunities.”

Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, and Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa, Oliver Alawuba, reinforced Mbah’s message and Enugu State’s current strategic positioning as one of Nigeria’s leading sub-national economies.

Kwairanga said NGX was on track to deliver three times its performance in 2025 due to rising investor confidence and key policy drivers, particularly the ongoing banking sector recapitalisation.

Speaking on the outcome, Founder/CEO of Mutandis Africa, Chinelo Anohu, said investors, who were drawn from various global economies, were eager to key into the various opportunities, with special focus on aviation sector and real estate sector opportunities. Anohu said they were also keen on bringing in smart solutions that would support Enugu’s Smart Schools and Smart City.

“The governor’s astute delivery of opportunities in the state and mastery of relevant data were quite compelling. Post-event transaction processes will commence immediately,” she added.