How Mbah redefined governance in Enugu

In assessing the performance of any government, political promises and official pronouncements are important, but they are not enough.

Beyond the speeches, slogans and policy declarations, the more compelling evidence lies in what has changed, what has been restored and what the people can see, feel and verify.

This is one perspective from which the administration of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State deserves closer examination, particularly in its efforts to revive moribund state-owned companies, distribute development projects across the state’s political wards and restore critical public infrastructure.

Since assuming office in May 2023, Mbah has pursued an economic development agenda that seeks to reposition Enugu from a predominantly civil service-dependent economy to one driven increasingly by production, investment, enterprise and innovation.

While opinions may differ on the priorities and effectiveness of his administration’s policies, particularly where some critics talk about taxation, the physical projects, industrial investments and government interventions provide a basis for evaluating its direction and achievements.

One area that stands out is the renewed attention to state-owned enterprises that had remained dormant or underperformed for decades, representing lost economic opportunities, abandoned infrastructure and potential sources of employment and government revenue.

Reviving Enugu’s industrial heritage

For a state with a history of industrial activity, the revival of moribund companies represents more than the rehabilitation of old buildings and machinery. It offers an opportunity to restore productive capacity, create jobs, stimulate local supply chains and rebuild confidence in public investment.

A notable example is Nigergas Company Limited, located in the Emene Industrial Layout, Enugu. Established in 1962, the company had remained dormant for more than three decades before the present administration embarked on its rehabilitation and upgrading.

The facility was officially reinaugurated in August 2025 and has resumed production of medical oxygen, industrial oxygen and acetylene gas.

The significance of this intervention extends beyond the reopening of an industrial facility. Medical oxygen is essential to healthcare delivery, while industrial gases support manufacturing, engineering and other productive activities.

According to information provided by the company’s management when members of the NUJ Enugu State correspondent chapel visited the facility, the revived facility has created more than 100 direct jobs, with the potential for thousands of additional indirect employment opportunities as related commercial activities expand.

If sustained, the revival could help reduce dependence on supplies from outside the state while strengthening Enugu’s industrial base.

The challenge, however, will be to maintain production, ensure market competitiveness and keep the facility operating profitably over the long term.

Enugu Smart City

The New Enugu Smart City is a major urban development project embarked upon by the current administration. It spans approximately 10,000 hectares (roughly 29 to 30 square kilometers) across five local government areas: Enugu North, Enugu South, Enugu East, Nkanu East, and Nkanu West, located off the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway near PRODA Junction.

Security

Before the coming of the Mbah administration, insecurity was a major concern. Cases of killings and abductions were rampant. There were notable black spots and dangerous areas that criminals operated without challenge. Today, the story has changed. The establishment of Command-and-Control Centre has changed the narrative around security in Enugu State. The centre is an ultra-modern hub equipped with high-definition cameras that monitor major city areas, strategic locations, and deep forest corridors up to 30 km away. The centre is integrated with over 150 patrol vehicles fitted with AI-enabled cameras, allowing the response team to reach distress sites within minutes.
United Palm Products returns to production
Another significant intervention is the revival of Enugu United Palm Products Limited (UPPL), the plantations of which are located at Ibite-Olo, Umulokpa and Ugwu-Oba, covering parts of Ezeagu, Uzo-Uwani and Oji River local government areas.

The plantations and associated operations had suffered years of neglect and declining productivity, leaving valuable agricultural assets underutilised.

To reverse the situation, the state government entered into a partnership with Pragmatic Palms Limited, backed by an investment agreement of about N100 billion in 2024.

Commercial palm oil production resumed in September 2026, marking an important step towards restoring the company’s productive capacity.

More than 1,000 hectares of plantations have reportedly been replanted, while a $2.2 million investment in a refinery has also been announced to strengthen processing capacity and support the production of value-added palm oil products.

The development is particularly important given the employment and commercial opportunities available across the palm oil value chain, from plantation management and harvesting to transportation, processing and marketing.
For rural communities around the plantations, a sustained revival could provide new income opportunities for farmers, transport operators, artisans and small businesses.

Nevertheless, the long-term success of the project will depend on the pace of plantation expansion, the completion of processing facilities, effective management and the ability to sustain commercial production.

Sunrise Flour Mills and other state assets
The administration has also turned attention to Sunrise Flour Mills in the Emene Industrial Layout.

The factory commenced operations in 1983 but became moribund in 1985, leaving behind an industrial asset that could have contributed to the state’s manufacturing capacity and employment base.

In September 2024, the state government signed a N40 billion revitalisation agreement with Jelfah Nigeria Limited to facilitate the company’s revival.

The proposed revitalisation is significant because flour milling has links to agriculture, food processing, transportation, distribution and retail trade. If successfully implemented, the project could create opportunities across these sectors while contributing to the state’s industrial growth.

Other facilities that have featured in the administration’s rehabilitation and investment efforts include Enugu Tribu Songhai Farms and ANAMMCO Limited.

The Presidential Hotel and the International Conference Centre, Enugu, have also featured in efforts to restore and improve important state assets.

These facilities have economic significance beyond their immediate operations. Hotels and conference centres can support tourism, business meetings, conventions and hospitality-related enterprises, while a functional manufacturing company can generate employment and stimulate economic activity.

Transportation

The present administration has also built transport terminals in some major markets, acquired Enugu Air, first in the history of the state. These facilities are capable of creating jobs and revenue for the state with the aim of getting the transportation system organised.

Taking development to the grassroots
Beyond industrial revival, another defining feature of the Mbah administration is its emphasis on distributing development projects across the state’s 260 political wards.

The establishment and development of Smart Schools and Type-2 Primary Healthcare centres across the wards reflect an approach that seeks to make public infrastructure more accessible to communities beyond major urban centres.

In education, the Smart School programme is intended to improve learning through modern facilities, technology and a more conducive teaching environment.

The government’s partnership with Hailer and its plans for the production of digital boards, tablets and laptops in Enugu as was investigated by BusinessDay could further strengthen the technology component of the initiative by improving access to digital learning tools.

The importance of such investments lies not merely in constructing school buildings but in equipping them, providing qualified teachers, maintaining the facilities and ensuring that children in rural communities benefit from the same quality of educational opportunities as their counterparts in urban areas.

The healthcare programme follows a similar logic.

The construction of Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the wards with solar energy, is intended to bring essential health services closer to residents, particularly women, children, older people and households that face difficulties accessing more distant medical facilities.

However, infrastructure must be matched with adequate staffing, medicines, equipment, reliable power and sustainable funding if these facilities are to deliver the intended benefits.

The distribution of projects across the wards is nevertheless an important policy direction because it places grassroots development at the centre of the state’s public investment strategy.

Water supply: Addressing a longstanding urban challenge

Water supply is another area in which the administration has sought to address a longstanding public infrastructure problem. For many residents of Enugu metropolis, access to reliable public water supply has been a persistent concern, forcing households and businesses to depend on alternative sources.

However, the government has worked to improve water production and distribution, with improved supply reaching areas that previously experienced shortages, including parts of Emene.

The restoration and expansion of water supply infrastructure have direct implications for public health, household expenditure, business productivity and environmental sanitation.
Although progress has been made, the ultimate test will be the consistency of supply, the number of households connected to the network and the ability of the system to meet growing demand as the city expands.

Reliable water supply is a basic public service, and improvements in this area could significantly affect the daily lives of residents.

Sports infrastructure and return of major events

Sports infrastructure is another component of the administration’s development programme.
The ongoing reconstruction of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, and the rehabilitation of the long-abandoned Games Village in Awgu Local Government Area are intended to strengthen the state’s capacity to host major sporting competitions.

The Awgu facility is particularly significant because its rehabilitation could restore an important sports and accommodation complex that had remained underutilised for years.

The state is also developing facilities in preparation for the 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged the Coal City Games, scheduled for November 27 to December 11, 2026.

Beyond the competition itself, the festival presents opportunities to promote Enugu, attract visitors, stimulate hospitality businesses and showcase the state’s capacity to host national events.

Sports infrastructure can also support youth development, talent discovery and the growth of related businesses.

The proposed rehabilitation of the NYSC camp in Awgu further reflects the potential to restore public facilities for productive use, although the condition, scope and completion status of the project require separate verification.

For these investments to deliver lasting value, the facilities must remain functional after major events and be supported by effective maintenance and management arrangements.

Beyond political arguments

In a politically competitive environment, assessments of government performance can easily become exercises in praise or condemnation. Yet, a journalist’s responsibility is to look beyond political loyalties and examine the available evidence, the scale of interventions and their actual impact on citizens.

In Enugu State, the revival of Nigergas, the resumption of commercial production at United Palm Products and the efforts to restore other state-owned assets provide important indicators of the administration’s economic direction.

The smart school and primary healthcare programmes, alongside investments in water supply and sports infrastructure, offer another basis for assessing its approach to public service delivery and grassroots development.

These initiatives should not, however, be judged solely by government announcements.

Independent verification of investment commitments, employment figures, production levels, project completion rates and the quality of services delivered remains essential.

Three years into the Mbah administration, the attempt to revive dormant industries while extending development projects across the state’s 260 political wards provides a useful framework for understanding its development strategy.