Governor Peter Mbah has embarked on an inspection of major infrastructure projects across Enugu State as preparations intensify for their inauguration ahead of his administration’s third anniversary on May 29.
The projects inspected include the 40-kilometre Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Umualor-Neke-Ikem dual carriageway, the 14.5-kilometre Amechi Idodo-Oruku-Amagunze Road, the New Enugu Smart City project and the Enugu International Hospital situated on Rangers Avenue.
Speaking during the inspection tour, Mbah said the projects were designed to serve as critical drivers of economic growth and investment in the state.
According to him, the infrastructure push is part of his administration’s broader plan to grow Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion while making the state a preferred destination for businesses, tourism and modern urban living.
Highlighting the significance of the Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Umualor-Neke-Ikem road, the governor described it as a strategic route that would provide a new corridor linking the state to northern Nigeria.
“We are less than 600 metres from the major road leading to Obollo Afor, which means this is now a completely new gateway to the North. Residents can travel to the North Central region without passing through 9th Mile or Opi Nsukka and reach Abuja within a few hours,” he said.
Mbah noted that beyond improving transportation, the road would stimulate agricultural and commercial activities in the affected communities.
He said easier access to farmlands and markets would encourage farming and improve the movement of produce across the state.
The governor also praised China Communications Construction Company, the contractor handling several of the projects, for maintaining a rapid pace of work to meet the state government’s deadline.
“We gave them a strict completion timeline for the end of May. To meet that target, they deployed several teams and have been working day and night. Government, on its part, has ensured prompt funding, while penalties are in place for delays,” he stated.
Mbah added that his administration remained focused on delivering durable infrastructure and expressed satisfaction with the quality of work already completed.
He further reaffirmed his government’s commitment to rural road development, pointing to ongoing projects such as the dualisation of the Enugu-Ugwogo Nike-Opi Nsukka Road.
The governor also referenced completed and newly inaugurated projects, including the Ama–Eke–Oghe–Iwolo–Olo–Umulokpa Road and the newly flagged-off 52.2-kilometre Lejja-Aku-Ukehe-Akpakume Nze-Egede-Affa-Eke road corridor.
At the Amechi Idodo-Oruku-Amagunze Road project site, Mbah disclosed plans to extend the road to the headquarters of Nkanu East Local Government Area.
During the inspection of the New Enugu Smart City, the governor said the first 6.5-kilometre dual carriageway had already been completed, while work was progressing on secondary and tertiary roads within the first 1,000 hectares of the proposed 10,000-hectare smart city development.
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