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Why we’re investing so much in healthcare- Gov Mbah
…Says Enugu to construct 260 PHCs, do more on universal health insurance coverage
…As UNICEF commends Mbah’s commitment to health, nutrition, pledges support
Governor of Enugu of State, Dr. Peter Mbah, says his administration has prioritised healthcare delivery, as it understands the import of a healthy population and healthy workforce.
Mbah, who said that the administration was in the process of constructing 260 primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in all the electoral wards and also ensure that every local government area got at least one world class secondary health facility, vowed that his administration would not relent until every child, mother, the elderly and Enugu citizen has access to better healthcare.
This was even as UNICEF commended the Governor Mbah administration’s commitment to healthcare and nutrition.
Mbah stated this at the weekend during an inspection tour of a primary health centre at Ogononoeji Ndiuno, Akpugo, Nkanu West LGA, where he also interacted with health workers and community leaders towards primary healthcare improvement.
“Healthcare is at the core of what we do in Enugu State. Indeed, outside education in our social services sector, the next sector that is taking the largest part of our 2024 budget is healthcare.
“It is so because we understand the importance of having a healthy society and indeed a healthy workforce. And in that hierarchy of healthcare, we see the primary healthcare as the most important.”
Mbah said that it was for this reason that the administration had undertaken a thorough study of the challenges in the primary healthcare space “to have reliable data to craft adequate strategy to address them”, adding that the administration had since swung into action.
“That is why, as you must have heard from the Commissioner for Health, we are going to be developing 260 world class Type-2 primary healthcare centres across the entire wards in Enugu State.
“Our strategy in that area is that rather than spread ourselves thinly across 557 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs),, we want to focus on consolidating our resources and developing 260 world class Type-2 PHCs because we want to provide 24-hour services in each PHC so that at any time, you would have access to quality primary health care in our rural communities across the state”, he stated.
Governor Mbah also explained that the administration was already addressing the state’s poor health workforce density, while equally paying attention to secondary healthcare.
“As part of our strategies, we are upgrading our nursing schools to colleges so that we can have more intakes and have more nurses and community health extension workers trained to man our PHC facilities.
“And as we are at the same time paying attention to secondary healthcare facilities. Our objective is to ensure that each local government gets a minimum of one world class secondary healthcare facility.
“Part of our strategy is also to deploy technology. We have now started the process of capturing, in an electronic form, all the reports of those that have access to the healthcare system so that we can have an electronic health management system.”
He harped on the need to bring more Enugu citizens under the universal health insurance coverage, saying it was cheaper and reliable.
“We are also doing something in the universal health coverage. We have to begin to encourage our people to enrol. Just giving N1,000 every month would ensure that your ward has access to primary health care, which comes to N12,000 in a year. So, we need to increase awareness in this space for our people to take advantage of it because it does exist.
“So, we are going to do everything to ensure we continue to improve on our healthcare performance index; and we will not relent until we get to that point where every child, every mother, and every elderly person in this state would have access to primary health care We will not give up”, the governor concluded.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Enugu, Juliet Chiluwe, had while commending Mbah administration’s effort at improving healthcare and nutrition also pledged the continued support of the international agency to the government.
“Your policies on healthcare and nutrition are commendable. We commend you for aspiring to make the state the best in the nation, and we are certain that with your support, we will win the leadership challenge.
“We are also impressed with the 260 proposed PHCs and UNICEF will support you”, she stated.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ESPHCDA), Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, said the administration was embarking on a massive recruitment of health workers in 2024, adding that the state has set up a seven-man committee to assess the performance of LGAs in primary healthcare delivery.
She said the agency recorded 75 per cent success on the cervical cancer vaccination campaign in October, the disease being the second major cause of death among women, while also training midwives to manage obstetrics and child delivery in rural areas.
On his part, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, assured the women that the new PHCs would reach every rural community, saying the state was doing well in the health sector because of Governor Mbah’s leadership.
“It is amazing that Enugu is already on the map of states doing well both nationally and internationally. Everyone is interested in Enugu because of the governor’s policies programmes in the health sector,” Dr. Obi stated.
The Chairman of Nkanu West LGA, Hon Uche Ejim; and a traditional ruler, Igwe Amushi Nwodo, who spoke on behalf of the 12 Akpugo communities and other royal fathers; and a community woman leader, Mrs. Chinyere Ani, expressed satisfaction with the determination of the Mbah administration to turn around the health sector in rural communities in the state and pledged their total support.
They pledged to secure health equipment and facilities that would be installed or built in their communities.
In attendance were the members of the House of Assembly representing Nkanu West and East constituencies, Hon. Ilo Aniagu and Hon. Okechukwu Mbah, respectively, Chairman of State ALGON and Council Chairman of Nkanu East LGA, Hon. Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, his Uzo Uwani, Isi Uzo and Enugu East counterparts, Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie, Hon. Barr. Obiora Obeagu, and Hon. Livinus Anike, respectively, and the Political Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Frank Anioma.
Among the Akpugo stakeholders on hand to receive Governor Mbah were the Special Adviser to Governor on Projects, Arc. Uche Nwatu; Managing Director, Enugu State Investment Development Authority, Dr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo; former Chairman of the Enugu State LG Pensions Board and Spokesman of Enugu State PDP Campaign Council, Barr. Nana Ogbodo; and former Commissioner for Works, Hon. Afam Nnaji.
Also present were the former Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Barr. Ray Nnaji; former Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Emeka Nwatu; former Deputy Chairman of Nkanu West LG Council, Chief John Ogbodo; former State Secretary of the PDP, Barr. Steve Oruruo, traditional rulers, among others.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has deployed no fewer than 2,527 personnel for the Enugu State Local Government Elections scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Commandant of NSCDC Enugu State Command, Dr Elijah Willie, told newsmen on Thursday in Enugu that those deployed included uniformed and plain cloth officers and men.
Willie noted that the Corps would strategical deploy seven vehicles for the Area Commanders, four additional van trucks, other vehicles for operational support staff for monitoring, while the commandant vehicular team would be on duty.
According to him, the command is ready for the council elections and we have been preparing ahead of time for it.
He said, “I have met the Corps management staff, Area Commanders, Divisional Corps Officers, head of special squad units and heads of departments on the election for sometime now.
“They have been briefed and oriented on their roles and responsibilities.
“We have developed an operational modules for the election, having received that of the police.
“The command will extend the same operational modules and its instructions down to officers and men in divisional areas and wards in order to ensure all officers and men work according to instruction.
“The command also directed officers and men to be firm carrying out their election duties while being civil and ensure due respect for human rights.”
He revealed that due to the council polls, the command and sister security agencies had been raiding criminal black spots and flashpoints in the state to ensure the state remained calm during the election.
The commandant urged residents to feel free and come out to exercise their franchise, while voting for the candidate of their choice without fear or favour.
“The NSCDC and other sister security agencies are assuring residents of a peaceful, violence-free and fair election as we are highly prepared to ensure a hitch-free and successful election.
“Miscreants are also warned to steer clear of the state and the election as there will be no room or space for them to operate.
“They should also be reminded that their activities are being tracked with statewide technology that will easily spot them out,” he said.
Willie noted that the NSCDC had also put in place other vintage security measures for the election, which might not be appropriate for the press.
It would be recalled that the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) had scheduled a statewide elections into the 17 Chairmanship and 260 Ward Councillorship positions in the state on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Security agencies in Enugu State have assured residents of the state of a peaceful, hitch-free and credible Local Government Election upcoming on Sept. 26.
Speaking on behalf of other security agencies after a security meeting on the elections on Thursday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, said that the election security arrangement had been concluded.
Giwa noted that the security agencies had put in place firm and robust strategies to ensure a peaceful, hitch-free and credible election on Sept. 26.
He said that the security agencies had made robust plans to take care of flashpoints and ensure no miscreant do anything to violate electoral rules.
According to him, we have planned to give the residents of Enugu State a very successful and peaceful election that they will be proud of.
“We have put our heads together to come out with formidable strategies for the conduct of the election.
“Our officers and men from various security agencies will be everywhere to ensure safety for all residents and people come out to cast their vote without fear or favour.
“The security agencies have vowed to ensure peace before, during and after the election and respond swiftly to any perceived incident that will be a threat to the election,” he said.
The commissioner said that so far there had been no threat to the election, while the security agencies had deployed adequate intelligence to ensure any threat is taken care of proactively.
Giwa urged those who would want to protect their votes after going to the ballot to do it with civility and decorum, while respecting electoral rules.
Speaking, the Executive Chairman of Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Prof. Christian Ngwu, said that ENSIEC was “very ready” for the election after “due and proper” arrangement.
Ngwu said that security agencies had assured residents adequate security with all their officers and men on ground before, during and after the election.
“They have assured the commission to deal decisively with any threat or persons that intend to cause trouble or create problem for election officials or electorate.
“We are anticipating a successful, hitch-free, transparent and credible election on Saturday.
“ENSIEC want eligible voters to come out en masse with their voters cards to cast their votes and elect their preferred candidates,” he said.
It would be recalled that ENSIEC had scheduled polls for the 17 Chairmanship and 260 Ward Councillorship positions in the state for Sept. 26.
The chairman also urged electorate to be free to defend their votes, adding,: “But you should not cause any trouble while doing that”.
The other security agencies that attended the meeting included: Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense (NSCDC) and Department of State Security (DSS).
The rest are: the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal and State Fire Service and the Forest Guard among others.
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Governing Board of the South-South Development Commission, SSDC, Chibudom Nwuche, has urged the Federal Government to grant amnesty to repentant cultists and militant youths in the Orashi area of Rivers State who are willing to lay down their arms and embrace peaceful and productive lives.
Nwuche also called for the rehabilitation, reorientation and reintegration of such youths into society, saying the initiative would help restore peace and security to the troubled communities.
The Orashi area comprises Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas of the state.
Nwuche made the appeal through his representative, Chief Kingdom Ajugo, at the commencement of the 2026 Upata Folklore, Ele, at Ula Upata, Ahoada East Local Government Area, on Tuesday.
He expressed concern over the deterioration of security in Ahoada and other parts of the Orashi region, saying the area had witnessed killings and various forms of criminality.
He recalled the gruesome killing of the then Divisional Police Officer, DPO, late CSP Bako Amgbashim, whom he described as a dedicated, intelligent and gallant police officer.
According to him, several appeals have been made to Rivers State government for an amnesty programme for repentant youths in the area, with no action taken.
Nwuche, therefore, appealed to the federal government, particularly the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, headed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to consider an amnesty programme for repentant cultists and violent youths.
He said the programme should include proper rehabilitation, reorientation and reintegration measures to enable beneficiaries become productive members of society.
He also appealed to youths still involved in cultism, kidnapping, robbery and other criminal activities to abandon violence and embrace legitimate livelihoods.
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“Those who are still carrying guns and killing our people indiscriminately should stop and accept amnesty and be ready to be reintegrated into society,” he said.
Nwuche said the predominantly farming and trading Ekpeye people should be able to carry out their legitimate businesses without molestation, harassment or fear.
He said hundreds of Ekpeye people had lost their lives to cultism and related violence over the years, declaring that the situation must end.
He urged traditional rulers, community leaders, government and the people to work together to restore peace, insisting that Ekpeye land could no longer be allowed to become a haven for criminals.
Urges Ekpeye unity
Nwuche also urged Ekpeye traditional rulers to provide exemplary leadership and work together to advance the interests of the people.
He appealed to the people of Upata to support their monarch, Eze (Dr.) Felix E. Otuwarikpo, Eze Igbu Upata III, and preserve the cultu ral heritage of the kingdom.
He described the annual Upata Folklore as an important platform for promoting unity, culture and hospitality among the people.
The monarch had earlier declared the 2026 celebration open, describing it as an enduring tradition through which the people celebrate their culture and heritage following the harvest season.
Use your votes wisely in 2027
On politics, Nwuche urged the people of Ekpeye to vote wisely in the 2027 general elections, saying they should support politicians who had demonstrated commitment to the development of the area.
“We have seen and known all those seeking our votes, and I will therefore urge you not to waste your votes but to support those who have shown attention and developed Ekpeye land,” he said.
Nwuche also spoke in support of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid and the political platform associated with FCT Minister and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.
He said he would, at the appropriate time, tour Ekpeye and the wider Orashi region to mobilise support for the political coalition led by Wike.
He recalled projects executed during Wike’s tenure as Rivers State governor, saying they remained significant to the development of Ekpeye land.
The event attracted traditional rulers, chiefs, community leaders, women and youth groups, students and representatives of Ahoada East and Ahoada West local governments. It featured cultural displays, traditional dances, goodwill messages and presentation of gifts to the monarch, chiefs and participants.
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