The Enugu State governor is hopeful about 2024, saying there will be better days for Nigerians in the new year. The governor has, therefore, urged citizens to keep hope alive, as the gains of some 2023 economic policies would begin to trickle in this new year.
He assured Enugu people that the state would witness disruptive economic growth in the new year, given the various projects, policies, and laws, including the state’s 2024 budget signed into law by his administration in the just ended year.
The governor stated this in his New Year message to Nigerians and the people of Enugu State.
“It is not in doubt that 2023 was a very difficult year for Nigerians, especially given the temporary hardships occasioned by some hard, but inevitable, policies of the Federal Government, such as the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of exchange rates. But I am very confident that the gale of inflation, unemployment, and general high cost of living will abate in the coming year,” he said.
“The onus is, however, on us, as leaders, at every stratum of government, to intensify efforts and initiatives to not only mitigate the immediate hardships, but also take advantage of the economic policies to put the nation on the path of prosperity,” he added
Recalling some landmark ground works done by his administration since its inauguration on May 29, 2023, Mbah said he had no doubt whatsoever that Enugu was at the cusp of economic prosperity.
“In the past seven months, we have endeavoured to lay foundations for a new and prosperous Enugu State that would be a premier destination for business, investment, tourism and living. We equally undertook monumental tasks that broke decades-old jinxes in some sectors.
“As promised during the campaigns, we were able to deliver potable water to Enugu metropolis in 180 days. We were able to raise water production from an occasional two million litres to 120 million litres per day, even as we continue to address teething challenges like leakages and sabotage while also expanding reticulation,” he assured.
The governor recalled further that the state government took advantage of the Electricity Act, 2023, signed by President Bola Tinubu in June by immediately initiating the Enugu State Electricity Law, which was signed in September to pave the way for an Enugu electricity market to support the state’s investment and the industrialisation drive.
He revealed that the state was cashing in on FG’s economic policies in the state’s quest for foreign direct investment (FDI) holding the maiden Enugu State Investment and Economic Growth Plan Stakeholders Roundtable, organising or participating in various local and international investment forums to rally investments to the state, and the results have been massive.
“We have equally fought insecurity, criminality, and agent provocateurs to standstill; hence, today, Enugu is safe and ready for business.
“We are currently constructing or reconstructing 71 urban roads in Enugu metropolis and 10 other major roads across the state, including the 40km Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Neke-Ikem dual-carriage way, while the construction of the 10,000-hectare New Enugu City has begun,” he said.
He added that work has begun on the construction of 260 smart schools across the electoral wards to provide modern basic education to Enugu children from creche to junior secondary in addition to world-class 260 Type-2 primary healthcare centres for all the wards across the state.
In pursuit of ease of doing business, he said, the state is automating service delivery across the MDAs, including the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development such that buyers will be able to process and obtain their Certificate of Occupancy in 72 hours
