By Gwiyi Solomon
Since mounting the podium, beginning with his election as standard bearer of the PDP in May, 2022, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah (now Enugu’s new Governor), has never hidden his plans to deploy his brilliance, intelligence, and technological know-how to make Enugu state the envy and cynosure of others across the world.
Dr. Mbah has, at different occasions spoken lucidly and glowingly about how he would move Enugu’s Gross Domestic Product from its current $4.4 billion to at least $30 billion in the next 8 years. This, in a simple parlance amounts to increasing the Gross Domestic Product of Enugu State sevenfold in the next eight years.
Currently, the three leading states in terms of GDP in the country today, are Lagos, Rivers and Delta states which stand at $32 billion, $27 billion and $22 billion respectively.
The new governor has equally demonstrated his administration’s eagerness to achieve sustainable PEACE and SECURITY in the state and make Enugu most peaceful and safest in the entire Federation by embarking on ‘three-pronged interventions: (A) An integrated programme to accelerate youth employment for all Enugu citizens; (b) Integrated rural development programmes; and (c) Community policing and inclusion of all citizens in the governance of the State.’
A new area Dr. Mbah’s administration has also expressed its inclination in rejuvenating includes ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES. Luckily, Enugu state has been designated as an oil producing state. This was made possible through an appeal lodged in October 2021, by the outgoing Governor, His Excellency DR. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi to the leadership of Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to formally designate the state as an oil producing state in the country.
To this effect, the new administration, will however, leverage on the successes recorded by the outgoing government to fully actualize the lofty dream of making Enugu state an Oil producing state.
In giving flesh to the above position, Dr. Peter Mbah had while recently presenting his manifesto to a large audience which had thronged the Godfrey Okoye University to listen to his beautiful plans for a new Enugu state, said: “We shall strive to ensure that Enugu gains the status of an Oil bearing & producing State within a year of our administration.
“To achieve this, we shall prevail upon the Oil Companies operating OPL 916 to bring into production, their wells within Enugu State, while we will engage with the investors in OPLs 914, 905 and 907 and work with them to achieve commercial production in their fields.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Mbah’s administration would also engage in revamping other key areas in the ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES sector which will include ‘procuring mining rights to the coal in Enugu from the Federal Government as well as exploration of Gas, Glass sands, Iron Stones, Clay Minerals, Lime stone, Gypsum and Alum.’
In the words of the urbane and farsighted governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, he had noted that “the state does not even know what natural resources it holds underground.
“Enugu is known as the Coal city with one of the best grade coal resources that can power industrialization. Enugu has Oil and Gas fields that are yet to be explored. We have vast renewable energy potentials – Biomas, Solar, hydro and wind. The rolling hills of Udi, Nsukka and other Senatorial zones are vast fields for wind and solar farms. Citizens accidentally rupture gas fields when digging wells and boreholes.
“We shall develop oil and gas fields, accelerate investments in renewable energy – biogas, solar, wind, and hydropower. We shall develop wind and solar energy farms in key Universities, Colleges, Hospitals, Health Centres, key public institutions and power the environs;” he said.
On road infrastructure, the new Governor has already rolled out an astonishing master-plan to embark on dualization and resurfacing of over 10,000 kilometers of road across the state. ‘This also includes construction of bridges in both the urban and rural communities as well as flyovers to remove traffic bottle-necks.’
He has also spoken about constructing ring roads to connect all 17 local Government headquarters of Enugu state. This in itself is the first of its kind by a governor in the Southeastern Nigeria and even the country at large.
On Agriculture which was the mainstay of the Nation’s economy ever before the oil boom of 70s, Dr. Mbah would seek to return Enugu back to a preeminent position as a leading producer of rice and other food crops through the revamping of the now moribund Ada-rice farm located in Uzo Uwani LGA of Enugu State, as well resuscitation of other farming fields across the state.
Although, Dr. Mbah, has earlier stated that his administration will “launch SAPZs (Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones) program in each Senatorial Zone of the state. Each SAPZ will include catchment power sources, integrated rural infrastructure – roads, ICT, water, and sanitation, etc., to facilitate access to improved technologies: high yielding seeds, fertilizer, machinery, processing and other logistics equipment.”
However, currently, the challenge posed by the scarcity of water in Enugu state metropolis is to say the least, discouraging. It is nonetheless, similarly expected that the new administration of Dr. Ndubuisi Mbah will fight in every front to deliver clean and drinking water to indigenes and residents of the state within a period of 180 days, after his assuming office as promised.
The governor had stated this while reacting to demands made by the people of Enugu South Local Government Area during his town-hall meeting with the LGA. Dr. Mbah also stressed that the Akwuke water Scheme and Dam will be revamped to give water to the people of the council Area.
This feat, if achieved within the timeframe already given by the new governor, would put smile on the faces of many residents who for many years, have been yearning and clamoring for a permanent solution to the water challenge in the state.
Other sectors calling for the attention of the new governor which he has already noted include Commerce and Industry, Rural and Urban Infrastructure, Lands & Housing, Urban Renewal and Public Transportation.
Dr. Mbah will also ensure his stunning touches reaches the Judiciary, Creative Industry, Tourism Development, ICT, The Public and Civil Services, Healthcare, Education, Environmental Management, Sanitation, Sport and Youth Development, etcetera.
While the above analyses appear mind-blowing to this reader, it is important we state at this juncture that a new Enugu state has been birthed through this Visionary and Innovative Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
Good luck to Dr. Peter Mbah and Congratulations to us all.
Indeed, Our tomorrow is here.
Solomon Gwiyi is Editor of Veteran News Magazine. He wrote from Uzo Uwani LGA.
