Governor Peter Mbah has been making the case that Enugu is becoming a new economic destination. Speaking to editors at the All Nigeria Editors’ Conference, reported by ThisDay in October, he set out a series of figures. They are the governor’s own claims. We set them out here so residents can weigh them against what they see.
The claims
- Revenue: internally generated revenue of N406 billion last year, up from N25 billion when the administration began in 2023. He said tax makes up less than 13 percent, with most growth from reviving state-owned businesses.
- Revived enterprises: United Palm Products Limited, the International Conference Centre and Hotel Presidential, Enugu.
- Schools: more than 7,000 classrooms being built, focused on smart schools, solar power and hands-on learning.
- Tourism: six major tourism sites in development, with a target of three million visitors.
- Roads: the state is dualising a 22km stretch of the Enugu–Abakaliki road while the federal government builds a flyover.
- Aviation: the international wing of the Enugu airport has been concessioned, and the state is pushing the investor to put it into operation.
On young people leaving the state, the governor said: “We don’t want our boys only to come back to Enugu when they want to attend funerals or weddings.”
How to read these numbers
A jump from N25 billion to N406 billion is very large. Revenue growth matters most when it turns into services people can use: classrooms with teachers, clinics with staff and drugs, roads that last. It also matters where the money comes from. If most of it is from state-owned businesses rather than taxes, those businesses’ accounts deserve public attention too.
What residents can check
- Are the new classrooms in your community finished, staffed and in use?
- Has the state published audited accounts showing the N406 billion figure and its sources?
- Which six tourism sites are being developed, and what has been spent on them?
On October 30, the governor also presented his administration’s record publicly, saying it had restored investor confidence. We will keep tracking the claims against delivery. If you have seen one of these projects up close, tell us.
