*Enugu North Leaders Queue Solidly Behind Gov
By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Huge fillip has been injected into the spirited bid by the administration of Governor Peter Mbah to transform Enugu State into a paradise on earth as several economic pillars are set to come onstream this month,ahead of the governor’s second anniversary in office.
These include Enugu Air, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mass Transit programme, and the ultramodern transport terminals all built from scratch by the Mbah administration.
The government has also approved the development of the state’s tourism industry, while total transformation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village will start in June to get them ready for the National Sports Festival to be hosted by the state in 2026.
These were made known by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke; Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji; and Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Lloyd Ekweremadu after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at the Government House, Enugu, at the weekend.
Briefing Government House correspondents, Ozor said: “We are starting off with the initial three aircraft and two of the aircraft are already on ground. The third one will be on ground by the end of this month.
“We are hoping to start the commercial operations before the second year anniversary of this administration.
“You have also seen buses for the mass transit programme across the state. Fifty of them are already parked at Okpara Square, and an additional 50 will be joining that fleet in the next few weeks. The 100 of them will be going into commercial operations before the end of this month, which is the second year anniversary.
“Also, the bus terminals, two at Holy Ghost, one each at Gariki, Abakpa and Nsukka, will also be commissioned and go into commercial operations before the 29th of May, this year.”
He added that the government planned to bring in an electric and CNG automotive manufacturing plant into Enugu as well as launch, in the next 150 days, the Enugu Smart Transport Programme, which would see to the injection of over 2,000 electric vehicles.
Also briefing newsmen, Dame Madueke said funds would be invested in the tourism industry in phases.
“We are going to have it in phases. For the first phase, we are having Awhum Waterfall, Nsude Pyramid where we are going to have the first canopy walkway in the South-East. It measures about 600 metres –which will actually be the longest in Nigeria.
“We also have Ngwo Pine Forest where we are having the first zipline in Nigeria. The zipline will measure about 300 metres.
“In the same Ngwo, we will have a big rotunda and a smaller rotunda. We have the Cross of Hope to be located at Okpatu. The Cross of Hope will be sitting 580 metres above sea level and the cross itself will measure about 50 metres, making it a total of about 630 metres above sea level. The cross will have about 15 floors with a lift.
“At Awhum Waterfalls, we are going to have another canopy walkway and a boardwalk to preserve the ecosystem.
“We equally have the Akwuke/Atakkwu Waterpark and Ovu Lake Golf and Resort at Akpawfu,” she stated.
The Commissioner explained that all the tourist sites would have experience centres, food courts and renewable energy, adding that tour buses would soon arrive to ensure ease of movement of tourists.
Ahead of the 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged the Coal City Games Enugu 2026, Barrister Ekweremadu said the SEC had equally directed the commencement of work both at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village not later than June.
“We also briefed the Council on the progress made in establishing a lab for animation for young people in Enugu State, which His Excellency will be commissioning soon. The lab is ready.
“We are similarly working towards empowering over 2,100 young people across the state, who were trained around December last year. This empowerment will be coming up on the 12th of August, being the International Youth Day”, Ekweremadu said.
Meanwhile, leaders of Enugu North senatorial district, also known as Nsukka Zone, have scored the Mbah administration high.
Expressing satisfaction with the governor’s performance, they stated that his second anniversary in office deserved commendation.
This was as retired senior security chiefs comprising army generals, directors of Department of State Services (DSS), Commissioners of Police, among others, declared support for the governor’s security reforms and tech-driven policing system.
The Nsukka leaders, who converged on Adada House, Nsukka, weekend, under the aegis of Enugu State Coalition for Progress, Enugu North Senatorial Zone chapter, comprised a cross section of socio-cultural groups, senior academics, retired security officers, captains of industry, traditional rulers, association of farmers, politicians, among others, drawn from the six council areas, said the governor had done well.
The gathering, which featured a dialogue series themed ‘H.E Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Administration – The Journey So Far (Education, Politics & Security)’, had the former Minister of National Planning and Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Osita Ogbu, deliver the keynote address.
Referring to the former Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew’s sacrifices that led to the transformation of Singapore from a third world country to a developed nation, Professor Ogbu said the country was in need of leaders that were committed to the welfare and growth of the people.
He commended the governor for substituting partisan politics with all-inclusive, people-driven governance in the state.
Noting that the governor was fulfilling his campaign promises, Professor Ogbu pointed to the revitalization and completion of abandoned projects, funding of quality education, financial independence through fiscal discipline, private sector mentality and efficiency in public governance.
Speaking on the concept of ‘Tomorrow Is Here’, the renowned economist said the governance philosophy had zero tolerance for lazy and unintelligent acts, zero tolerance for corruption, strive for new opportunities, adherence to strict democratic accountability, clean and green environment, and the pursuit of a healthy and happy citizenry with rights and responsibilities.
“We did analyses of the budgets of all the states and we did a comparison. Enugu State, in absolute terms, in relative terms, spends more on education than even Lagos State. It’s the highest spender on education across the federation,” he disclosed.
Speaking on security, a discussant, Maj. General Victor Ezeugwu (rtd), said retired veterans from the zone met with the governor with proposals on some of the challenges facing the zone, adding that the governor had already executed almost 60% of the proposals.
“We visited the Command and Control Centre in Enugu today, and from that centre we watched Uzo Uwani and the forests around Uzo Uwani, and other areas, and all of us were very amazed that he has brought technology to bear on security.
“We’ve proposed to the governor that all the senatorial zones have a replica of that spectacular innovation which he has promised,” Ezeugwu said.
The veteran, who called for a joint taskforce where all the security apparatuses would work in sync to tackle the menace of killer herders and the Eastern Security Network (ESN), said Gov. Mbah had provided welfare and also informed them of the planned increment of salaries for local vigilante and neighbourhood watch operatives.
Acknowledging that veterans from the zone were already working in synergy with the governor through a five-man committee approved by him, Gen. Ezeugwu called on the people of the district to support the state government to do more.
Also speaking were the lawmaker representing Igboeze North/Udenu federal constituency, Rep Dennis Agbo; the Deputy Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Ezenta Ezeani; Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Innovation, Dr. Chinyere Onyeisi; Coordinator of the group, Hon. Chinedu Onuh, and the secretary, Professor Simon Ortuanya, who lauded the governor for championing landmark projects in the zone.
Justifying the significance of the gathering, Hon. Agbo said the governor had done well, particularly for the people of the zone, which was the motive behind the discussion.
He called on the people to continue their support for the administration.
Lending his voice, the Deputy Speaker said it was time to tell the world the remarkable projects the governor was championing in the senatorial zone, and to also convey a message of appreciation to him.
“From what we have gathered from our people, the governor is getting more popular on a daily basis. It’s because of the litany of development projects and it has never happened, so we’ve come out en masse to appreciate his good works.
“We’re a very grateful people, and we are grateful to the governor. What we’re discussing here is governance, beyond politics,” he added.
On her part, Dr Onyeisi stressed that the world-class 260 Smart Schools in the state were an initiative of the Mbah administration to address inadequate infrastructure, outdated curricula, and equip both teachers and students with the essential soft skills for the 21st century tech revolution.
Declaring support for the governor on behalf of other security chiefs, Maj. Gen. Godwin Ugwuoke (rtd) said security comes first in any clime at all levels, saying the governor had accepted to set in motion all that was required to execute the terms and proposals made by them.
According to him, “Everything that he’s putting in place, it’s only security that will make us enjoy it – the economy, education, health, and all that the government is doing. The most important thing we from the Enugu North Zone can do is to encourage him to continue to do more, and let us not distract him unnecessarily.
“From afar, you’d think that the governor is unapproachable, but if you approach him with a good idea, you’ll discover that this is a leader.”
Other dignitaries at the dialogue, moderated by the Chairman of Udenu Local Government Area (LGA), Mr Aka Eze Aka, were the former Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Dr Dan Shere; the Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu; State Secretary of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Chukwudi Nnadozie; foremost entrepreneur, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, and the Chairmen of the six LGAs of the zone led by the Deputy Chairman of the state chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Barrister Ferdinand Ugwueze, among others.
