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Governor Peter Mbah, says his administration is rebuilding Enugu into a modern, competitive, and crime-free state anchored on security, productivity, transparency, good governance, and strong partnership with the Church.
Mbah who made the declaration at the Fourth Enugu Diocesan Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu on Monday at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, where he delivered a keynote address on the theme, “Promoting a Productive Economy in Enugu State”, said leadership is about rendering stewardship and that government and the Church share a common mission such as building a just, humane, and thriving society for the progress of humanity
Speaking before the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga; the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo; the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Owerri, Archbishop, Anthony John Valentine Obinna; priests, religious leaders, the laity, as well as other cardinals and bishops outside the diocese, Mbah revealed that he approached the Synod not as a political leader but as “a son of the Catholic Church,” shaped by its discipline, compassion, and deep moral foundations.
He described the Synod as a sacred moment for introspection, particularly as his administration approaches its third anniversary, adding that the central question hinged on whether the government had honoured the trust Nigerians and the people of Enugu placed in them through the Citizens’ Charter of accountability, measurable progress, and transparency.
Mbah said, “Two years down the line, the direction is clear. We pledged to build a productive economy, and we have stayed faithful to that covenant.”
The Governor who explained that his administration’s resolve to grow Enugu’s GDP from $4.4bn to $30bn, place the state among Nigeria’s top three economies, and drastically reduce poverty was never political rhetoric but a necessity for sustainable development.
He noted that recent economic statistics already place Enugu among Nigeria’s top-tier states, while the benefits of the reforms are visible across sectors.
Speaking on his key achievements, the governor announced that Enugu’s internally generated revenue has grown by over 450 percent within two years, insisting that the growth did not come from new taxation but from plugging leakages and reviving long-abandoned state-owned enterprises, including Sunrise Flour Mills, United Palm Products, Nigergas Company, Hotel Presidential, and other assets.
According to him, the resuscitated assets and other newly founded businesses are now contributing to the state’s economic expansion and job creation.
On security, the governor said his administration has delivered one of the most dramatic security turnarounds in the region. “By confronting the illegal sit-at-home order and deploying advanced surveillance technology through the Command and Control Centre, violent crime has reduced by more than 80 percent. Today, Mondays are fully active; investors are returning; and our streets are safer,” he said.
He lauded the Catholic Church for being an indispensable partner in education, health, morality, and youth development, calling for closer collaboration, while maintaining that a productive economy requires ethical leaders and honest citizens whose values the Church continually nurtures.
Mbah also urged the Church and the wider society to stay steadfast in supporting the state’s transformation agenda. “We are rebuilding Enugu together. And with God’s grace, we will leave behind a legacy of peace, productivity, and shared prosperity.”
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