-Vows to move Enugu from $4.4bn GDP to $30bn in eight years
-Projects to create #100bn business capital for MSMES
In a comprehensive data detailing his agenda for Ndi Enugu state, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, His Excellency, Dr Barr Ndubuisi Mbah, has pledged to run a quality and people-focused government when elected governor. The 64 page manifesto/statement of purpose, tagged: "Ndi Enugu, Tomorrow is here," the Owo, Nkanu born, British trained lawyer, vowed to make Enugu one of the top three states in Nigeria in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and achieve a zero per cent rate in the poverty headcount index in eight years.
Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, who holds a master of business administration (MBA) from the IESE business school, Barcelona, Spain and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science, specifically noted that he will raise the GDP of the state from $4.4billion to $30billion within the period. A former Chief of Staff to the government of Enugu state and commissioner for finance in the state, Mbah stated that his mission is to make Enugu the preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and habitation. As part of his objectives of achieving, peace and security as well as inclusive economic development, he promised to accelerate youth employment, introduce integrated rural development programmes as well as community policing and inclusion of all citizens in the governance of Enugu.
We will achieve these through targeted policies and programmes to: Grow the GDP of Enugu state sevenfold in the next eight years, from the current level of $4.4billion in 2022 to $30billion by 2031, he explained. In addition, Dr Mbah stressed that he would achieve a zero per cent rate in the poverty headcount index through government-enabled private sector development and reduce the percentage population in subject poverty to zero per cent, from the current levels by 2031. To build confidence and de-risk investment flows, the businessman pointed out that his government shall foster a sense of belonging among Enugu people through proactive and transparent engagement with all stakeholders.
Through proactive community engagement and use of digital technologies, the incoming governor posited that he will execute a performance-based social contract with the citizens of Enugu and be fully transparent and accountable to them on a continuous basis. My government will embrace modern technologies to entrench self-governance - publish digital state accounts annually, and implement quarterly delivery accountability reporting at all tiers of government- from the local government, civil service commissions and state cabinet. "We will personally report to citizens on progress each quarter through an open state of Enugu reports made available to all citizens of Enugu through the social media.
"We will encourage all members of my government to do the same from councillors to commissioners and my cabinet. We I'll enact executive performance contracts with each of my direct reports and liaise with citizens to hold government accountable on quarterly basis," he affirmed. The governor to be promised to take ownership of projects and programmes initiated and currently being executed by the government while projects still under construction at handover will be completed for the benefit of Enugu people. In driving development across the industrial sector, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah said that him and his team will adopt poverty eradication, promote ease of doing business and enhance access to funding as key measurable indicators. On agriculture, he maintained that his objective in the sector shall be to: Feed Enugu state and turn the state into a food-basket for Nigeria and a hub for export of cash crops".
The target is to eliminate food insecurity in the by 2031 through massive investments in technologies for agricultural extension services, implementation of specialized agro-allied industrial zones in all senatorial zones of the state, and accelerate technologies for agricultural systems transformation in Enugu state," he said. Among others, he explained that he would focus on harnessing the available resources in Enugu state to light up and power the state, create jobs for the youth and women while growing the GDP by mobilizing investments to develop energy, natural gas and mineral resources across the state. "We shall strive to ensure that Enugu gains the status of an oil bearing and producing state within a year of our administration. To achieve this, we shall prevail upon the oil companies operating OPL 916 to bring into production, their wells within Enugu state, while we will engage with the investors in OPLS 914, 905 and 907 and work with them to achieve commercial production in their fields. The resulting natural gas from these production activities will be gathered for use in powering industries in the state. Additionally, we shall seek collaborations with reputable investors to commence the economic exploration of the other key minerals in the state," he noted. Chief Mbah stressed that his government shall establish industrial parks and special economic zones of the state focusing on key areas of competitive advantages.
To facilitate venture capital investment in existing Medium and Small Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in selected areas, the next governor of Enugu state saw to float in partnership with venture capital firms an over N100billion venture capital for the business in the state state per annum. "Within the first 100 days in office, the Enugu state Investment Forum (ESIF) shall be convened to bring together all the key players needed to drive and sustain investments in key areas of commerce and industry in the state. Because he understands that shelter is a basic human need, Dr Mbah said his focus will be geared towards the provision of mass housing programme. He noted that this will be affordable to cross sections of the populace as well as establishing of housing finance schemes, including mortgage schemes to assist those willing to buy and own their own homes as well as generation of revenue through appropriate administration of property tax. In view of its development plan, he posited that Enugu will seek to evolve a multimodal transport system incorporating light rail, train services and inland waterway services to complement the existing road transportation.
The future of Enugu state, Dr Mbah stressed that the ongoing efforts to digitalisation of the High Courts will be completed and expanded to cover court administration. In addition to this, Mbah said that he will address the current internal security issues resulting in the agitation for separation. "Our preferred approach is to engage a our people in maintaining peace which is necessary for growth and development. Measures taken would be geared towards community participation in the provision of security so that our farmers can return to their farms without fear of molestations. We will expand collaborations with security agencies in communities," he said.
