From IKECHUKWU NNADI, Enugu
Lauds Coal-City State’s security infrastructure, smart schools
President Bola Tinubu has called for captains of industry and other private sector players in Nigeria to enter politics to help to build Nigeria, saying Governor Peter Mbah’s success in Enugu State has shown that the country needs them in the public sector to move the nation forward.
Tinubu, who described Governor Mbah as a committed leader, who is taking Enugu to the next socio-economic development level expressed this view during a one-day official visit to Enugu State at the weekend, during which he inaugurated a number of projects executed by the Mbah Administration.
At the commissioning of the state-of-the art Command and Control Centre for the full surveillance of the state as well as 150 patrol vehicles fitted with hi-tech equipment and cameras, Tinubu noted that Mbah is doing everything possible to secure Enugu State.
“This has reassured me of the fact that more revenue going to sub-national and local governments is not a waste. It is for development, especially when we have committed leaders like Peter Mbah taking Enugu on the path of 21st century development, to greater heights, building our tomorrow today,” the president said.
“I cannot forget the sight of those small children that I just met in a green 21st century school. We also went to the multi-purpose International Conference Centre and here we are commissioning the investment in security that will bring about rapid development. I could see vehicles, gadgets with 21st century technology. Yes, you are indeed planning for today, tomorrow and the future of Enugu.
“It is audacious to have this hall filled with technology and be ready for use to promote investment. Investment is very cowardly. They run away from trouble. And when you assure security, development and give value for their money, they will be your friend.
“One thing we all know is that you are a private sector person. So, we must encourage more private sector players to come into politics.”
In his remarks, Mbah, who is the Founder of Pinnacle Oil and Gas, a major player in the Nigerian downstream petroleum subsector, said his administration’s massive investments in security, education, infrastructure, among others, is tied to his Administration’s vision of exponential economic growth and positioning of Enugu as the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and living.
“Our goals include growing Enugu State from the $4.4bn economy that it was on my accession to office, to a $30bn economy in the next four to eight years. It also includes the ambition to make Enugu State one of Nigeria’s top three states in GDP terms,” Mbah enthused.
“But we recognise that few things stifle dreams such as we have, and drain life out of a city like untamed criminality – or any hint of it.
“That understanding is evident in the substantial investments we have made in strengthening security in Enugu State.
“The framework of our security system was designed to nip crime in the bud, and react swiftly when there is any breach of security.
“However, a sense of security is not simply instilled through the physical presence of arms-bearing personnel. It is rather reinforced by a system that helps guarantee a sense of security even when the threat of crime is remote.
“This is what our AI-enhanced security initiative, which has led to round-the-clock surveillance of our streets and neighbourhoods across the entire state, is helping us to achieve.
“This statewide CCTV network is operated via this Command and Control Centre commissioned today.”
Thirty (30) completed and equipped Enugu Smart Green Schools out of 260 under construction across the 260 wards in the state, a multi-auditorium and multi-functional Enugu International Conference Centre, and 90 completed urban roads in Enugu, the State capital, were among other projects commissioned by the president during the one-day visit.
