… Says New Enugu Smart City, Coal City Eastern Alliance are SPVs

… Gov’t officials fulfilling nominal roles in accordance with the law

The Enugu State Government has strongly condemned and rebutted a malicious allegation of land grabbing against its officials by Sahara Reporters, an online platform.

The July 14, 2026, report relates to the New Enugu Smart City and Coal City Eastern Alliance Estate and the government maintained that a diligent inquiry could have laid the facts of the matter bare.

It is recalled that the contentious report had named the current Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; former Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Martins Chukwunweike; former General Manager of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, Mr. Gerald Asogwa; and a former Legal Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Osinachi Nnajieze, as beneficial shareholders in the Coal City Eastern Alliance Limited, alleging that the state government acquired community and individuals’ lands and transferred the same to the company, which it described as a private firm.

However, a rebuttal issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, on Wednesday, absolved the government and its officials of any wrongdoings, noting that the named entities were Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), which are international best practices for floating corporate entities to protect government’s interests.

It said both the former and present government officials named were nominal shareholders and directors, who are on the boards of the said Enugu State-owned companies solely as trustees of the people’s interests in the special projects, in line with the law.

“The motive of the story is betrayed by the writer’s intentional avoidance of evidence and facts, which would have cast doubt on the headlines and negated the conclusions reached by the report.

“For example, while the story pretends that Enugu State government officials who were on the board of these SPVs were land grabbers and beneficiaries of the assets of the company, the report turns a blind eye to the fact that the board members did not benefit a kobo from the company.

“Not even a sitting allowance was paid to any of the board members during their time on the board of these SPVs.

“Also, while the story pretends that the government officials on the boards of these SPVs were beneficial owners planted by the Governor to siphon the resources of the company on his behalf, the authors wilfully turned a blind eye to the fact that those same state-owned companies were administered by officials of previous administrations, whose positions in the company terminated at the end of the administration that appointed them to the Board of the company.

“For example, the story falsely alleges that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) owns 30 per cent of the government company.

“But common sense tells us that since the SSG and other officials mentioned in the malicious report occupy exactly the same positions in the state-owned entities as their predecessors, there would have been no assets or shares left to be transferred to them when they were appointed by the present administration to take over the running of the SPVs if the assets or shares eligible to them personally.

“So, for emphasis, the current Board members of these state-owned SPVs are nominal shareholders and directors, who are on the Board for the sole purpose of representing state interests in the SPV,” the statement read in part.

The government also picked other holes in the report that portray the publication as wilfully pernicious or ignorant of how SPVs are utilised by state and private entities in floating, delivering, vesting, and protecting government interests and assets in public and private ventures, businesses, or investments.

“As an example, while the story falsely and laughably alleges that the nominal shareholders and directors, who run the SPV on trust for the State, have taken real ownership of the assets of the company, Sahara Reporters could not reckon with the fact that many other Enugu State-owned companies also have other officials of the state, who are nominal shareholders and directors representing the state in the ventures. These include companies formed decades before the current administration in 2023.

“In each of those cases, the nominal shareholders and directors are succeeded by appointees of successive administrations in natural sequence until the emergence of the current administration.

“Additionally, other SPVs of the state also have several other state officials on the Boards of the companies. That is further evidence of the nominal and trusteeship nature of the roles of these state officials.

“As further proof of the nominal nature of the shareholding as trustees, the same state officials have similar roles in multiple state-owned companies.

“Therefore, if they were all beneficial owners of the shares held in these companies, there would be nothing left of the companies and the assets and interests they hold for the state,” the government explained.

The government dismissed Sahara Reporters’ claim that the report was a product of tenacious investigative journalism, saying a professional report could not have stopped at a mere “low threshold of searching and regurgitating the information on the portal of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and seeking to tarnish the Government of Barr. Peter Mbah and the innocent, credible, reputable individuals and world-class professionals serving in his government.”

“If the writers and reporters made any real effort at investigation, they would have gone beyond the public information on the portal. That way, they would have found out quite easily that all assets and liabilities of the state-owned SPV known as Coal City Eastern Alliance Estate Ltd were transferred to the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, which has remained in total control of the projects of the company since 2024.

“Similarly, they would have also found out that the New Enugu City Management Agency, as the name implies, is an agency of the government.

“Therefore, the presence of government officials on its Board is merely an administrative position, not in the same sense as the Board of Directors of a going business concern. Their roles are merely governmental oversight in the administration of a government agency.

“We believe that this basic knowledge should have guided Sahara Reporters and that a diligent investigation could have saved the medium the hurried correction of the story several times to cover up massive inaccuracies,” the statement concluded.

In appreciation of his developmental initiatives in the five South-East states, the governors have resolved to fully support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Although the governors belong to three separate political parties, their resolve is based on the fact that no President since 1999 has addressed the welfare of Ndigbo more than Tinubu.

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, announced this in Owerri at a meeting with traditional rulers and members of the State Elders Council.

He said contrary to the grandstanding of some enemies of Ndigbo, the people are fully aware that Tinubu serves their best interests and would therefore repay his magnanimity in 2027.

Uzodimma, who is both Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and the Progressive Governors Forum, cautioned politicians against the use of Igbo platforms to canvass propaganda that has no factual basis.

“The Igbos are too discerning and too results-driven to trade tangible infrastructure for political speeches. The South-East will stand with the Tinubu administration that has favoured them,” Uzodimma declared.

Uzodimma said the governors had reviewed the performance of the Tinubu administration as it affects the development of the South-East and unanimously agreed that the region would continue to identify with the President and the Renewed Hope Agenda because of the tangible dividends already delivered.

The Governor said the South-East could no longer be swayed by political rhetoric when the evidence of federal intervention across the zone was visible.

“We, the five governors of the South-East, have reviewed all options and decided that we will work with President Bola Tinubu because we want to be part of Project Nigeria,” Uzodimma said.

He added that the governors would soon pay a joint courtesy visit to President Tinubu to further strengthen their partnership with the Federal Government.Geographic Reference

According to him, the decision was informed by the administration’s record of addressing long-standing developmental concerns in the South-East, including the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), a demand that had remained unmet since the end of the civil war.

The Governor noted that President Tinubu signed the South-East Development Commission Act into law on 24 July 2024, inaugurated its governing board in February 2025 and ensured that the commission commenced operations with funding.

He also highlighted the rehabilitation and commencement of commercial operations on the Port Harcourt-Aba rail line, describing it as the first practical step towards reconnecting the South-East to the national rail network.

Uzodimma further praised the President’s approval of a $3 billion reconstruction of the Eastern Rail Corridor stretching from Port Harcourt through the South-East to Maiduguri, saying the project would significantly boost commerce and regional integration.

On road infrastructure, the governor commended the Federal Government for executing the Phase 2A and 2B access roads to the Second Niger Bridge, including the dual carriageway linking Umunya, Ogbunike, Ogidi, Nkpor and Asaba, with seven bridges along the corridor.

He also referenced the approval of the 108-kilometre Otuocha-Anam-Ibaji Road and the 150-kilometre Oba-Nnewi-Uga-Ihube/Okigwe Junction Road, projects he said would strengthen economic connectivity between Anambra, Imo, Abia and other parts of the country.

Uzodimma argued that beyond projects specific to the South-East, the region had equally benefited from national policies of the Tinubu administration, including increased allocations to states, student loan programmes, improved security efforts and fiscal reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business.Public Policy

“The South-East has decided. Our people judge governments by performance and not by political sentiments. The evidence is on the ground,” he said.

Turning to state matters, Uzodimma urged the Imo State Elders Council and traditional rulers to remain committed to the implementation of the state’s Charter of Equity, insisting that the law remained the foundation for lasting peace, justice and political stability in Imo.

He recalled that upon assuming office in 2020, he inherited a deeply divided state and initiated reforms aimed at restoring order, rebuilding trust and ensuring inclusiveness in governance.

According to him, the enactment of the Charter of Equity by the Imo State House of Assembly was designed to institutionalise fairness in the rotation of political power and guarantee that every part of the state had a sense of belonging.

“The Charter of Equity is real, and I need your mandate to implement it because that is what will bring lasting peace to Imo State,” he said.

The governor maintained that the next governor of Imo State must emerge in line with the Charter of Equity and possess the character, integrity and commitment required to preserve the gains recorded by his administration.

He stressed that whoever succeeds him must be God-fearing, fair-minded and committed to sustaining the principles of equity, justice and good governance rather than reversing the progress already achieved.

Uzodimma warned against attempts to undermine the Charter of Equity for personal political interests, declaring that he would personally defend the law to safeguard the future stability of the state.

“I will take the fight personally to protect the Charter of Equity. I will stop at nothing,” he declared.

The governor also advocated greater investment in skills acquisition and vocational education, saying equipping young people with practical skills remained one of the most effective ways of tackling unemployment, reducing crime and driving sustainable economic growth in Imo State.

He urged traditional rulers to continue supporting government initiatives aimed at maintaining peace, promoting development and ensuring that the state remained on the path of stability and inclusive progress.

Gunmen suspected to be cultists shot and killed the zonal commander of a local security outfit codenamed OSPAC in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, identified as Ozomela Stephen Nwaocha, on Tuesday evening.

Also killed were three women, including the commander’s sister, who were with him during the attack.

OSPAC is the acronym for the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area Security Planning and Advisory Committee.

The assailants reportedly attacked the vigilante commander while he was relaxing outside his compound with the women along Oba Road in Omoku.

It was gathered that the killing may have been a reprisal following a violent clash linked to a community dispute.

A source told our correspondent that a youth meeting had been disrupted earlier on Tuesday after armed security personnel and OSPAC members allegedly stormed the venue and opened fire, leaving two youths with gunshot injuries.

Videos of the aftermath of the attack circulating on social media and seen by our correspondent on Wednesday showed multiple casualties, including the three women. (Punch)