Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has said that within the past two years his government had built over 800-kilometer roads and procured 200 CNG buses in his bid to restoring the past glory of the state.
The governor said this in his address at the event marking his second year anniversary held at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.
Mbah also disclosed that the international wing of the Akanu Ibiam airport and the cargo terminal would soon be ready for inauguration.
“In just two years, we have begun to rewire the foundation of Enugu State for future promise.
“We have constructed over 800 kilometers of roads, opening access to farms, markets, industry, schools, and hospitals.
“To date, we have delivered five ultra-modern terminals across the state: Holy Ghost Terminal 1 for interstate travels with a skybridge to Terminal 2; Holy Ghost Terminal 2 for intra-city transport; Gariki Terminal; Abakpa Terminal; and Nsukka Terminal – all ready for commissioning.
“We have allocated 33 per cent of our budget to education alone, surpassing even global benchmarks, because we believe that our future is forged in classrooms.
“Soon, we will begin the rollout of 260 Smart Green Schools, equipped with digital whiteboards, science labs, and solar-powered experiential learning spaces.
“Alongside this, we are building 260 fully equipped Primary Healthcare Centres across every ward, each designed with staff quarters, solar panels, and clean water. No mother in Enugu should ever again fear childbirth due to distance or neglect,” Mbah said.
The governor noted that security remained the foundation of all progress, and said his government had “launched a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre, deploying 150 AI-enabled security patrol vehicles.
According to him, this had led to the decline in violent crimes, making it possible again for citizens to travel, trade, and sleep in peace.
He said that his administration was also growing the economy of the state.
“We’ve increased our internally generated revenue (IGR) by over 600 per cent, revived moribund assets, launched investment drives, and improved our ease of doing business while laying the groundwork for agro-industrial systems that will feed, employ, and empower our people.
“We have equally created 300,000 hectares of Landbank to be leased to large scale commercial farmers, while establishing 200 hectares of farm estates in all the 260 wards in the state to scale up agricultural production across the value chain, both for export and the local market.
“We completed the Enugu International Conference Centre, giving our state a place on the global stage.
“We launched Enugu Air, a bold venture that will transform Enugu into a globally-connected economic powerhouse.
“We have conceived a radical overhaul of our transport system, procuring 200 CNG buses and 2,000 city taxis. Our ticketing technology will significantly reduce transport costs for families,” he said.
