Governance: Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu residents rate governors

The governors were rated high on security, infrastructure and governance As most administrations in the country observe the midterm review, many residents of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States score their governors high in security, infrastructure and governance. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi mark their two years in office, their counterpart in Anambra, Prof Chukwuma Soludo is rounding up his first four-year tenure in November, 2025. In Enugu State, Igwe Patrick Okoro, the Traditional Ruler of Nkpunano Community in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state, said Gov Mbah had done well in various sectors of the economy in the state especially in infrastructure, security and good leadership. Okoro, while reacting to the performance of the governors since assuming office in May 2023, said that Mbah had done massive  infrastructural development in the three senatorial districts of the state. “We, in Enugu North Senatorial District, have benefited 102 Smart Green Schools, 102 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres and  more importantly the ongoing dualization of the Enugu-Ugwogo Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road. “The district is happy with what Mbah has done in the past two years and we urge him to keep it up,” he said. Mr Onyekachi Omeje, President, Nsukka Youths Development Association, said that the governor had transformed the motor parks in the state with a state of the art bus terminals in Enugu and Nsukka. Omeje however, said that Mbah should improve in areas of employment and empowerment especially as it concerned youths in the state. Mrs Ngozi Ozioko, former Chairman of Nsukka Main Market, said that Mbah had transformed the state with quality infrastructure especially in education and health as well as ensuring adequate security in Enugu State. Ozioko commended the governor for including women in his cabinet and urged him to continue to appoint more women in his administration. “To me, Mbah is a game-changer; if he continues this way, Enugu State will be the best state in the country by the time he finishes his first and second tenures,” she said. However, the former market leader urged the governor to compensate all traders whose shops were demolished by his administration to build modern bus terminals in the state. Chief Onyema Idoko, former Nsukka LG Caretaker Committee Chairman and Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that infrastructures on ground in Enugu State remained eloquent testimony that Mbah had done well since May 29, 2023 he assumed office. Idoko urged people who said that the governor had not done well in terms of employment and empowerment to know that massive infrastructure would provide enabling environment for business to thrive in the state. According to Idoko, these massive infrastructure the governor is putting in place would in turn boost youth employment and empowerment in the state in future. Speaking, Chief Anthony Onyishi, Deputy-govenorship Candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2023 general elections, said that Nsukka people were happy with the Smart school vision of Mbah as well as the dualization of the Enugu-Ugwogo Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road. Onyishi however, said that Mbah could have used virgin lands to build the Smart Schools instead of demolishing some existing primary and secondary schools in the state to build the Smart schools. On agriculture, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, said that Gov. Mbah had deepened the vision to make Enugu State export and commercial agriculture hub in Africa. According to him, the ministry started with a target of acquiring 300,000 hectares of farmland for agricultural purposes especially for developing large scale commercial farming. He said that so far, 187,934 hectares across various locations in the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state had been acquired; and more land to be acquired from willing communities across the LGAs. “Continuous update and registration of farmers data on all agricultural value chains across the 17 LGAs in Enugu State has been completed. This is to ensure that the State has a robust and verified data of all farmers within the state. “Over 67,000 farmers’ data have been captured featuring the geo coordinates, farm sizes, specialisations, value-chain etc of these farmers and their farms with over 80 farmer co-operatives registered so far,” he said. On Economy, the Director General of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr Uchechukwu Mba, said the governor had been  building on the economy of the state. He observed that a lot of infrastructure development and reforms under Mbah’s administration made the state stand out within two years in office. “In my personal assessment, he is doing well in the areas of transport, infrastructure, investment in education, health sector and a whole lot of others. “But  government needs to sustain what it is doing currently and look at the effect of the existing policies they already formulated by reviewing some of them to improve lives of the citizens. “This is important as so many business owners are complaining about taxation, but for me as a person, tax is a necessary policy that the government has to keep. “Our own is to make sure that every tax policy is friendly and that the means of collecting them does not affect or bring adverse effect on the living standard. “So we are in support of what the government is doing and we encourage the government to always look downwards and hear from the citizens,”. The President, Airfreight Stakeholder’s Forum, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Comrade Chinedu Abugu, hailed Gov. Mbah for changing narratives in the state’s transport sector. Congratulating  him on his achievements on transportation under two years, Abugu, said the governor built bus terminals in different places in Enugu capital and Nsukka, taking transport sector to another level as obtained in developed countries. “And recently, the governor, in the collaboration of partners, has launched the Enugu Air. It is already in the news and  no longer a secret, that Enugu has an airline which will  boost the economy of the state. “It is also going to boost the

Enugu govt blazes embraces climate smart agriculture

No fewer than 100 farmers from the 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State on Friday received training on Climate Smart Agriculture to mitigate agricultural losses. The workshop is aimed to enlighten farmers on best agronomy, seedlings and planting/harvest periods as well as protection of crops and the farmer and family against harsh weather, disasters and sicknesses. The workshop on “Downscaling of 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction for Enugu State Farmers” was organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation in collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET). READ ALSO: FG to prune number of prisons Declaring open the workshop on Friday in Enugu, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, said that participating farmers would be part of trainers meant to further stepdown the training. According to him, the 100 registered farmers participating will serve as trainers and ambassadors for the dissemination of knowledge and best practices in the Climate Smart Agriculture to farmers in each of the 17 council areas. “Their experiences and insights will be invaluable as we work together to implement these innovative agricultural strategies and step it down to each farmer and his or her farmland. “Our mission to transform Enugu State into the food basket of Nigeria and an export hub is bolstered by robust partnerships with private investors. READ ALSO: Senate committee recommends 6-month suspension for Sen Natasha Akpoti “We have signed partnership agreements with the following private partners; Pragmatic Palm Ltd, Bio-sources and Technology Ltd, Ugwu Anama Farm and Fungtai Engineering Company LTD. “Others are Atletico Farm Concepts Ltd, Whit Rabbit Agro Concept Limited, and the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN). “More partners are in the pipeline for both rehabilitation of existing farms and establishment of new ones,” he said. Ubru said that the state government, its partners and the people were cultivating vast areas of land and developing produce cities that would serve as centers of excellence in agriculture. “These collaborations are essential as we strive to create value chains that not only enhance production but also improve the livelihoods of our farmers. “Under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, we envision a future where Enugu State is synonymous with agricultural prosperity. “Our goal is to feed the people of Enugu and beyond while establishing our state as a key player in the national and international agricultural markets. “Today’s event is not just about climate predictions; it is about equipping you, our farmers, with the knowledge and tools necessary to adapt to changing climatic conditions. “In a world where climate change poses significant challenges to agriculture, we must stay informed and proactive,” he said. The commissioner urged the participants to take full advantage of the workshop and use the information provided to implement best practices that enhanced the state’s agricultural resilience. Ubru expressed gratitude to farmers especially the youth and women, private partners, and stakeholders for their unrestingly commitments to the development of Enugu State. Speaking, Mrs Glory Onyegbule, Director, Applied Meteorological Services in the NiMET, said that Enugu State, according to the 2025 rainfall prediction, would have ample and long stretch of abundant rainfall between April and November. READ ALSO: Atiku must not be given 2027 Presidential ticket – Bode George “However, farmers should start planting when there must have been series of rainfall and the ground saturated with enough water. This should be so since most farmers in the state depend on rain feed, sustained type of agriculture. “This will ensure better and bumper food harvest for direct consumption, local market and foreign exchange earnings as well as reduce or eliminate losses due to wrong rainfall or climatic timing,” Onyegbule said. Corroborating, Prof. Ifeanyi Enete, Director, Institute for Maritime Studies of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said that adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture was a current global best practice and it opened up better understanding of modern agriculture. The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Victor Ngwu, urged farmers in the state to adopt the new learning and modify their farming practices to check losses and ensure constant profitability in their farming business. 

Return to the party: Gov. Mbah appeals to aggrieved PDP members

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has appealed to aggrieved PDP members to seize the opportunity presented by the ongoing reconciliation process to come back to the party. The governor also called for peace and unity among the members of  PDP)in the Southeast Zone and the entire country. Mbah made the appeals when he received members of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee,led by a  former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at the Enugu Government House on Thursday. The PDP National Reconciliation Committee visited  the governor to brief him on efforts  being made by the committee to resolve a number of issues in the party. Mbah, who described Enugu as the bastion of PDP, enjoined the committee to ensure genuine and lasting peace with a view to bringing back  aggrieved members into the party. He insisted that the only way the party could win elections was through a united front, built on true reconciliation and justice. Mbah further added that the party in the Southeast operated as  members of the same  family. He stressed that the party in the zone had done extensive work to ensure those who left the party were brought back. PLEASE READ: Court shifts Ganduje’s bribery case to April 15 “We also believe that the Southeast is a stronghold of the PDP and if we have people who are out now, it is not necessarily their desire to be out. So, what we need at this time is to bring back our aggrieved members to where they belong. “The PDP is still largely the party with the spread that is required to win any election in this country and still appeals to the people of this country. “I have no doubt in mind that those our brothers who are just waiting for moments like this will be brought back to where they belong and we can forge a strong alliance going into the next general elections,” the governor added. Speaking earlier, the PDP National Reconciliation Committee Chairman said that the disunity in the party was one of the reasons the party lost the 2023 presidential election and other election cycles in the country. Oyinilola appealed to aggrieved  members of the party in the Southeast to sheathe their swords and embrace the idea behind the peace and reconciliation process for the good of the party. According to him, Nigerians need to invest their trust in PDP to do things right in the country. Also speaking, the State Party Chairman, Dr Martin Chukwunwike, said the reconciliation move would rejig the party’s ongoing efforts in the state and bring back disgruntled members. He expressed optimism in the leadership of Mbah , noting that the party was already witnessing mass return of members who had  left for other parties.

Tinubu Visits Enugu for Project Commissioning Today 

President Bola Tinubu is about now in Enugu to commission a series of projects initiated by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.  According to a statement from the State Government Secretary, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Tinubu will oversee the unveiling of several completed projects, including 30 smart schools and 60 healthcare centers.  The visit will also feature the opening of the newly constructed Enugu International Conference Centre, urban roads, a Command and Control Centre, and the launch of advanced security patrols with AI-equipped vehicles. Additionally, some rural roads will be inaugurated during the one-day visit. READ ALSO: China’s Foreign Minister to Visit Four African Nations, Nigeria This visit coincides with the challenge posed to the Nigerian leader by a member of the opposition, HE Mr. Peter Obi who challenged him to cut down on foreign trips and visits more states of the federation to feel the pause of Nigerians. Mr. Obi who was the second runner up in the 2023 presidential elections also hinged his admonition on the fact that such visit would enable Mr. Tinubu to appreciate the hardship his economic policies has wrought on the common Nigerian. Mr. Tinubu is reputed to have spent above a third of his time in office in foreign trips in search of so-called foreign investments that have remained largely elusive. READ ALSO: Ohaneze Nd’igbo Welcomes President Tinubu to Enugu, Asks Him to Order the Release of Nnamdi Kanu

Minimum Wage: Gov Mbah approves N80k

The governor of Enugu state, Peter Mbah has approved a new minimum wage of N80,000 for Workers in the state. The governor made the disclosure in a statement posted on his social media handle. He said, “I have just approved a minimum wage of N80,000 for Enugu workers, effective October 2024. “We appreciate the hard work and sacrifices of the state’s workforce and will continue to prioritise their welfare in line with our campaign promises. “Tomorrow is here.” It can be recalled that Governor Mbah in August inaugurated the committee for the implementation of the new national minimum wage for civil and public servants in the state. This followed the approval of N70,000 as the new national minimum wage by the Bola Tinubu-led Federal government.