Mbah: We Have Reduced Insecurity in Enugu by 80%
…Reaffirms Commitment to Private Sector-Led Economy as Amadeo Business Summit Holds 5th Edition
Governor Peter Mbah has said that his administration has reduced insecurity by 80 per cent across the state, reaffirming the commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses and investment to thrive.
Gov. Mbah disclosed at the fifth edition of the Amadeo Business Summit in Enugu, where he highlighted the administration’s security interventions, business reforms and infrastructure development efforts.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, said the government had prioritised security because economic activities could not flourish in an environment where residents were afraid to go to work, attend school or conduct business.
Ossai recalled that Mondays were previously characterised by widespread fear and economic inactivity in parts of the state, but said the government had confronted the challenge through sustained security operations and the deployment of technology.
“Despite the pockets of insecurity still happening, we will stop at nothing until Enugu State becomes a place where no one is scared to go to any part of the state without fear,” he said.
The Deputy Governor also reiterated the administration’s commitment to transforming Enugu into a private sector-driven economy, noting that the government had embarked on infrastructure development and institutional reforms to position the state as a preferred destination for business, leisure and residence.
He said the administration had introduced reforms to ease the process of establishing businesses, including a one-stop shop for business registration and licensing, through which investors could complete registration processes and obtain the necessary approvals within a short period.
According to him, the government has also leveraged technology to harmonise revenue collection and prevent multiple or burdensome payment processes from negatively affecting businesses and residents.
Ossai further disclosed that Enugu had taken advantage of the constitutional amendment permitting states to establish their electricity regulatory frameworks, adding that the state had developed a regulatory system designed to protect investors and provide greater confidence for investment.
He stressed that a thriving business environment required more than government policies, explaining that adequate housing, quality schools, reliable infrastructure and other essential amenities were necessary to attract and retain businesses, skilled workers and expatriates.
Speaking on the significance of the summit, Ossai described the initiative as an important platform for promoting entrepreneurship, building business capacity and encouraging young people to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to sustain their enterprises.
The Deputy Governor observed that access to capital alone was insufficient to guarantee entrepreneurial success, stressing that business owners also needed practical knowledge, sound management skills and the wisdom to build enterprises capable of surviving across generations.
He cited the Igbo apprenticeship system, popularly known as Igba Boi, as an example of a model through which entrepreneurs acquired practical business skills, discipline, prudence and management experience from their mentors.
However, he noted that some businesses had failed to survive beyond their founders because of gaps in knowledge, skills and succession planning, rather than a lack of hard work.
Ossai described the summit as an investment in human capital development, adding that the state government would continue to support initiatives that equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and competencies required to grow their businesses.
He also urged the Amadeo Group to strengthen partnerships with universities in Enugu State, particularly in research and development, to harness the intellectual capacity of academic institutions in addressing the state’s economic and developmental challenges.
“I look forward to the next edition of the Amadeo Business Summit with our schools participating actively and proffering solutions to the issues that affect us,” he said.
Ossai assured investors and residents that Enugu remained an accommodating environment for people from different backgrounds, declaring that anyone who lived or invested in the state should regard it as home.
He reiterated the government’s determination to improve security, strengthen infrastructure and deepen reforms that would encourage private investment and promote sustainable economic growth.
The Amadeo Business Summit, now in its fifth edition, brings together entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to discuss business growth, enterprise development and strategies for building sustainable businesses.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
