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At LCCI Int’l Conference and Expo, Gov. Mbah woos investors with economic opportunities in Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has assured the local and international investment community of abundant investment opportunities in the state, stressing that the state was making fast progress in de-risking investment and making its ease of doing business more attractive.
Highlighting the state’s abundant investment opportunities in agriculture and agro-industry, logistics and aviation, tourism, real estate, mineral resources, and information and communication technology (ICT), among others, Governor Mbah said his administration was minded on a paradigm shift from “the traditional model of relaying on allocations from the Federation Account” as the state’s future and new growth plan rested on leveraging its extensive human and material resources.
Mbah made these known on Tuesday at the ongoing 2023 Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) 2023 International Conference and Expo, which also had in attendance an array of members of the international community and investors.
Recalling the discovery of coal in Enugu in 1909 and construction of railway to power the European and national economy, Mbah said his administration was building partnership with the private sector to unlock the capital market, attract investments, and retake its place in the local and global economy.
“Enugu is now open for business. We are markedly revisiting our ‘ease of doing business’ indicators to ensure the environment is conducive for business. For example, our new land title processes will facilitate the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy in not more than three days or 72 hours.
“Processes for the procurement of building approvals will also be revisited and markedly reduced to achieve improved efficiency.
“We are automating all our major government processes to ensure transparency in all aspects of engagement with government and facilitate self-service by the public with little or no need for physical engagement with public servants.
“We are also willing to de-risk business investment in key sectors by providing access to land, providing support infrastructure, handling engagement with host communities, among others”, the governor stated.
In the area of agriculture and agro-industry, Governor Mbah said the state was currently “positioning to take advantage of our proven strong factor productivity in the areas of some key segments of agriculture by opening up another 300,000 hectres of farmland for cultivation of focus crops and animal production”.
These focus crops and animal production opportunities include cassava, soyabean, oil palm production, cashew, which he said had a projected $7bn global market size by 2025, and Nsukka pepper, which he said had become “a veritable export commodity as well as an industrial raw material for various spice brand”.
He said investment opportunities in poultry, piggery, and fishery were large, while Enugu’s geographical position as the gateway to the North made it attractive for agro-processing investments.
Dr. Mbah noted that survey showed that about 40 per cent of the air cargo imported via Lagos was actually destined for the South East and South South, thus making investments in logistics and aviation quite lucrative.
“In the area of logistics and aviation, we are investing extensively in our logistics and aviation sector to make transit through and to Enugu efficient and seamless.
“To achieve this, we are prioritising development of a cargo terminal for the Enugu International Airport to facilitate the direct receipt of cargo in Enugu as opposed to the current practice of shipping into Lagos airport and then undertaking the ardouos and expensive overland journey to the South East by truck. The terminal will also facilitate the export of agro-produce direct from Enugu”.
He also listed the planned development of light rail in collaboration with other South East governments and development of modern logistics centres at key cross-roads like Obollo Afor and Ninth Mile Corner as other investment opportunities.
The Governor also emphasised opportunities in tourism where he said the state was in the process of refurbishing and reactivating Presidential Hotel, Enugu and completing the International Conference Centre; real estate where the state would be developing a New Town, which would offer 60,000 household living spaces.
Governor Mbah equally explained that the administration was working with the Federal Government to attract investors for the production of natural gas and crude oil as well as abundant solid minerals such as ironstone, zinc, lead, limestone, kaolin.
He further listed investment opportunities in ICT, which he said remained a priority to the government.
Recall that the Enugu State Government on Monday announced the inaugural Enugu State Investment and Economic Growth Stakeholders Roundtable scheduled for September 1 where the Governor is to unveil a $2.1billion project pipeline to local and international investors.
Meanwhile, the organisers, the LCCI, commended Mbah’s successful efforts at restoring security in Enugu State as well as ending the illegal Monday sit-at-home.
The elder brother of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has reportedly been killed by suspected bandits.
The victim was the Village Head of Galla in Borgu Emirate, Niger State.
The assailants were said to have stormed his palace on Monday, August 24, 2026, in an incident that has reportedly unsettled residents of the community.
According to Daily Post, sources familiar with the development said the monarch had earlier warned the bandits to stay away from the community.
His warning was allegedly viewed as an affront by the criminals, who later returned and attacked him at his palace.
The killing has further raised concerns about the security situation in the Borgu Emirate, where bandit attacks and other criminal activities have reportedly increased in recent times.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, acknowledged receiving inquiries about the incident.
He, however, said he would get back with details after obtaining the necessary information.
As of the time of filing this report, the police spokesman had yet to issue an official statement confirming the killing or providing details about the circumstances surrounding the attack, Naija News understands.
Meanwhile, fourteen people who were reportedly kidnapped have been rescued from bandits in Zamfara State by troops of the Nigerian Army.
The operation, carried out by Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, in the Tsafe Local Government Area of the state, also prevented the criminals from carrying out another abduction.
The troops responded to information about suspicious movements of the criminals around Magazu village on August 26, 2026, and acted swiftly.
According to the military, the troops moved into the area and came across a group of armed men allegedly attempting to abduct civilians, including motorists.
The operatives engaged the suspected criminals, forcing them to abandon their vehicle and escape into the surrounding bushes.
The troops subsequently launched a search of the area and discovered 14 victims who had already been taken hostage by the attackers.
One of the rescued victims sustained gunshot injuries during the incident and was immediately taken to the General Hospital, Tsafe, where he was admitted for treatment.
The military said none of its personnel was injured or killed during the operation.
The latest rescue, according to the military, is part of ongoing efforts by Operation FANSAN YAMMA to disrupt the activities of criminal groups and prevent them from freely operating across Zamfara State.
The troops also reaffirmed their commitment to protecting residents and motorists while denying bandits the opportunity to carry out further attacks in the area.
Motorists and travellers using the Benin-Agbor-Asaba route have been stranded for days as severe traffic congestion continues to disrupt movement between the South-South, South-East and Lagos.
The gridlock, which has reportedly persisted for about five days, has left motorists spending long hours on the road, with some travellers unable to reach their destinations.
The situation has been attributed largely to the poor condition of sections of the road, which has been further worsened by heavy rainfall in the area.
Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi and some National Assembly members inspecting Benin-Agbor road on Tuesday
The rain has reportedly made some portions of the road difficult to navigate, resulting in vehicles becoming stuck and worsening the already severe congestion.
The route is a major link for motorists travelling between Lagos and several states in the South-South and South-East, making the prolonged gridlock a major concern for travellers, transport operators and motorists.
Some motorists have reportedly been forced to spend extended periods on the road as efforts to navigate the affected sections have proved difficult.
The development has also raised concerns about the impact of the bad road on the movement of goods and passengers, particularly during the rainy season.
Travellers using the route have called for urgent intervention to restore movement and prevent further deterioration of the situation.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on Tuesday led an urgent federal intervention on the congested Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway following President Bola Tinubu’s order to ease the hardship faced by stranded motorists.
Umah’s arrival in Edo State was disclosed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, who shared a video of the minister’s on-site inspection on his official X handle.
“Umahi arrives in Benin, Edo State, to address the congestion on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road,” Nwaze posted, adding in a subsequent update, “Umahi arrives Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road to resolve issues surrounding the road, which was handed over to concessionaire on PPP Basis since 2025.”
In an official press statement issued on Tuesday, Nwaze confirmed that Tinubu ordered immediate corrective measures on both the Benin-Agbor-Asaba axis and the deplorable Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti road spanning Ekiti and Kogi States.
To execute the directive, Umahi reportedly deployed the Minister of State for Works alongside ministry officials to commence remedial works on the Ekiti-Kogi corridor.
“While the intervention team moved into Ekiti and Kogi States, Umahi himself headed to Benin, Edo State, alongside members of the National Assembly Works Committees, to initiate a similar coordinated intervention on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road.
“The Benin meeting is expected to bring together key stakeholders, including representatives of the Edo and Delta State Governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with the aim of finding immediate solutions to the challenges confronting motorists on the strategic corridor,” the statement partly read.
The FCT Police Command has identified officers accused of allegedly extorting N40,000 from a resident along Wuye-Utako Road, near Salem Church, in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Command said the officers depicted in a video circulating on social media had been identified and were in custody.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
“The attention of the Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, PhD, FCAI, has been drawn to a video circulating on social media alleging that police officers of the FCT Police Command extorted an FCT resident of the sum of Forty Thousand Naira (₦40,000) along Wuye – Utako Road, by Salem Church, within the Federal Capital Territory.
“The officers depicted in the video have been identified and are in custody,” the statement read.
The video, which began circulating widely on social media around August 24, features a man who claimed that on August 20, 2026, a police officer in Abuja collected ₦40,000 from him even after verifying that his documents were complete.
The man shared footage showing a receipt and a conversation after he returned to the checkpoint.
Adeh said the Command had also invited the complainant to the FCT Police Command Headquarters to give an official statement on the incident to aid investigation and disciplinary action.
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