Gov Mbah Presents Governance Scorecard, Says Enugu Has Reclaimed Its Economic Confidence

…reflects on challenges inherited in 2023, highlights progress in security, infrastructure, education and economic development

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has defended his administration’s development record, declaring that the state is regaining its economic confidence and regional relevance after years of insecurity, weakened public infrastructure and declining commercial activity.

Mbah made the submission on Thursday while presenting his administration’s manifesto performance report at the Peter Mbah Law Auditorium, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, in an exercise that brought him back to the same venue where he unveiled his political manifesto in October 2022, ahead of the governorship election.

The presentation, themed “Our Commitment to Ndi Enugu: The Journey So Far,” provided an opportunity for the governor to assess his administration’s performance against its campaign commitments, outline progress across key sectors and restate its ambition to transform Enugu into a major economic destination.

He said the exercise was also a fulfilment of the Citizens Charter, established through Executive Order 001, which he signed shortly after assuming office on May 29, 2023, as part of his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Revisiting the circumstances surrounding his assumption of office, Mbah described a state grappling with serious security and economic challenges, particularly the disruption of commercial activities caused by the Monday sit-at-home order.

He recalled that businesses remained closed, roads were deserted, school attendance was disrupted and thousands of residents whose livelihoods depended on daily economic activities lost productive working hours.

The governor also identified deteriorating roads, inadequate public services, struggling educational institutions and underfunded health facilities as some of the challenges confronting the state at the time.

He further lamented Enugu’s declining position as a regional commercial, political and cultural centre, noting that businesses were relocating, major events were moving to other cities and the airport was recording barely two incoming flights daily.

However, Mbah argued that his administration had made progress in reversing the situation, particularly through efforts to restore security and create an environment conducive to economic activities.

According to him, the return of greater freedom of movement and commercial activity has provided the foundation for interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, tourism and transportation.

“Today, people are going about their business with a freedom that had been denied to them for far too long.

“A trader can plan a full working week. Children can attend school. Businesses can receive customers, move goods and keep their employees working. That security gave us a foundation upon which other changes could begin,” he said.

The governor linked the administration’s sectoral interventions to its broader economic strategy, which includes eradicating poverty and expanding the state’s economy from an estimated $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

He maintained that the objective was not simply to improve physical infrastructure but to build an economy capable of generating sustainable opportunities, strengthening household incomes and improving the living conditions of residents.

While expressing satisfaction with the progress recorded, Mbah acknowledged that significant work remained, urging residents not to mistake the achievements so far for the completion of the state’s development agenda.

“The changes are visible, and the scale of our ambition is becoming clearer. We should take pride in what has been achieved, while recognising how much remains to be done,” he said.

He consequently called for broader citizen participation in governance, urging individuals, professional groups, entrepreneurs and community leaders to contribute their expertise and ideas towards addressing the state’s development challenges.

Mbah said the administration’s long-term objective was to bequeath stronger institutions, a more productive economy, improved opportunities for children and communities capable of sustaining collective progress.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Prof. Christian Anieke, commended the governor for returning to the institution to account for his stewardship, recalling that the same auditorium hosted the presentation of his manifesto in 2022.

Anieke described the exercise as an important demonstration of democratic accountability, urging other political office holders to cultivate the practice of returning to the electorate to explain their performance and report on the promises made before assuming public office.

He also described the achievements of the Mbah administration as visible and verifiable, noting that several government projects and interventions could be assessed by residents across the state.

The event attracted representatives of the academic community, students, civil society organisations, business owners, professional associations and the media.

Mbah’s presentation places the administration’s development claims and campaign commitments before the public for scrutiny, renewing attention on the central question of governance: how effectively political promises are being translated into measurable improvements in the lives of the people.