Of cheering news recently in Enugu State ahead of the 2023 governorship election, is
the outcome of the recent meeting of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Abuja, which ratified the request of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration for Enugu to join other states in enjoying oil producing status, following the discovery of oil in Uzo Uwani LGA of the state.
This is coming after unrelenting push and tough struggle by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's administration, in view of the fact that Kogi and Anambra states that co-owned OPL 916 with Enugu State had since been accorded the oil producing status, that enabled them to enjoy the statutory 13 percent derivation.
It is quite historical and gladning that the dream of Enugu State becoming an oil producing state came to fruition during the administration, though at its twilight.
The positive development will help to improve the economic growth of the state, the wellbeing of the people and the dwindling revenue of the government.
Of advantage and joy also is the fact that this is happening at a time, an oil magnet, employer of labour and great entrepreneur, Dr. Peter Mbah is coming on the saddle as the next governor of Enugu State.
Mbah, who has written his name in gold in the oil sector by transforming and driving the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd from one studio room in Victory Island Lagos to a global conglomerate and major player in the competitive downstream oil sector within a short period has not hide his happiness, plans and readiness to latch on the state becoming oil producing state to massively create job and develop the state.
The timing of oil producing status for Enugu state and Dr. Mbah's emergence as the likely next Governor of Enugu State on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform appeared divine, perfect, coincidental and advantageous.
This is because Dr. Mbah is a guru and a man with a Midas touch in oil sector. He has the requisite and immeasurable experiences to run the affairs of the state and harness the economic potentials of the state especially as it has to do with the oil discovery.
Speaking at his ongoing town hall meeting with the people across the 68 development centres in the state, Mbah pledged to ensure the activation of dormant oil fields in the state to boost the economy of the state when elected governor in 2023.
Mbah, while noting and commending the official designation of Enugu State as an oil producing given the oil wells co-owned by Enugu, Kogi and Anambra States in the Anambra River Basin, as a good development, promised to bring in foreign investors to fast-track the exploitation of other oil and gas fields solely owned by the state.
He spoke during town hall meetings attended by community, political, and religious leaders as well as youth and women groups, labour and professional bodies at Idaw River Layout and Eke Otu, Amechi-Uwani, headquarters of Enugu South East and Enugu South Central Development Centres, respectively, in Enugu South Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
“Apart from the OPL 916, which is co-owned, Enugu State has three other oil fields, including OPL 905, OPL 907 and OPL 914. We have the data of the oil deposits in these fields and we would begin to generate revenues from them.
“We equally have a lot of other mineral resources such as limestone, and coal, among others, and we must optimise them for the development of our state” he stated.
Mbah spoke on this development with finality and authority, because he has the expertise, reach and good knowledge of the oil sector which will be an added advantage to the state, when elected Governor come 2023.
Ezea is the Deputy Director, (Online Media) Enugu Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council.
